Health minister's assisted suicide comments condemned by SPUC Pro Life

Health minister's assisted suicide comments condemned by SPUC Pro-Life London, : Comments by Anna Soubry MP, the new health minister, supporting assisted suicide have been condemned by SPUC Pro-Life www.spuc.org.uk the group which was officially represented before the courts in the Debbie Purdy and Diane Pretty cases.

In an interview in The Times newspaper, Mrs Soubry called it "ridiculous" that disabled and chronically-ill people are not given help to kill themselves in Britain.

Paul Tully, SPUC Pro-Life's general secretary, commented: "The good will among the public towards people with disabities has never been higher than at these Paralympic Games. Suddenly they are faced with the sickening prospect that if they struggle with suicidal feelings, they will be given help to die instead of care and support. Anna Soubry has wasted no time after her appointment in making known her priority. Such a move would allegedly save huge amounts of public funds in the costs of caring for disabled, elderly and supposedly unproductive people. Disabled people must speak up now before the minister starts trying to legislate against their equal right to exist."

Note to editors:  Ms Soubry's remarks do not make any specific reference to 'terminally-ill' people, but referred to those who go abroad to commit suicide, who have included disabled people of different ages, some with long-life expectancy.

Paul Tully, SPUC Pro-Life's general secretary, can be contacted on mobile 07964 048373 or landline (office hours Mon-Fri) 020 7820 3127. SPUC www.spuc.org.uk can be contacted on 020 7091 7091.