The Austrian Parliament has voted to legalise assisted suicide after a law banning the practice was set to expire. Austrian Catholic bishops have condemned the move as “a dangerous shift in values”.
Yesterday, Austrian politicians voted to permit assisted suicide in the nation. The vote followed a Constitutional Court pronouncement that outlawing assisted suicide would be a breach of human rights.
The Austrian Assisted Suicide Act grants death to patients over the age of 18 said to be terminally ill or suffering from a permanent or debilitating condition. Each case is to be assessed and decided by two doctors.
The new law was supported by the ruling Austrian People’s Party.
Austrian Catholic bishops have slammed the now successful attempt to legislate assisted suicide as “unacceptable” and a “cultural breach” in a country where 57% of citizens are baptised Catholics.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Switzerland, “chamber of horror” suicide pods, doubling as coffins, are set to be introduced in 2022 after passing a legal review.
Earlier this year, euthanasia was legalised in Spain, another traditionally Catholic nation, in what was described as a “disastrous” day for Spain, as reported by SPUC.
SPUC comment
A SPUC spokesperson said: “The legalisation of assisted suicide in supposedly Catholic nations is especially shocking and shows that we cannot afford to be complacent in resisting such dangerous bills.
“Scotland is currently considering a highly inappropriate and dangerous assisted dying bill, which SPUC is resisting with the help of dedicated supporters.
“We must not allow this bill to be passed. Assisted suicide is part of a broader anti-life trend that cheapens human life and increasingly turns to death as a substitute for care, compassion and love.
“We must act now and stand up for life.”
Take action
Please respond to the consultation on the proposed Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adult (Scotland) Bill.
This dangerous practice must not be made legal in any part of the UK.
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