13 organisations representing 800,000 caregivers in France have released a collective statement opposing the introduction of assisted suicide in the nation. “The legislator is fundamentally transforming the definition of care and deciding to put an end to collective ethics”, the opinion has stated.
The “joint ethical opinion”, issued on 16 February, stated that “all of the professionals questioned categorically refuse the euthanasia process, and specifically the acts of preparation, implementation, and administration of a lethal substance”.
Euthanasia and assisted suicide are not compatible with care, the opinion concluded.
The 13 organisations have, therefore, requested that the French Government “leave the medical care world out of any involvement in the form of administered death… if they decide to change the law”.
The hundreds of thousands of caregivers, including experts in pediatrics, geriatrics, oncology and palliative care, also highlighted vital issues that governments should take into account regarding the legislation of assisted suicide.
This included the transitory nature of requests to die, leading “the same person to express contradictory wishes a few days apart, on the same day, or even during the same conversation”.
The opinion also called on the French Government to prioritise and “significantly” improve the provision of end-of-life care.
The collective statement concluded that:
“While the health system in France is experiencing an uninterrupted series of crises, it is absolutely a priority to fill the glaring gaps in our management model. Conversely, the signatory organizations would find it incomprehensible that, by legalizing a form of medically administered death, the legislator is fundamentally transforming the definition of care and deciding to put an end to collective ethics.”
“We must listen to our caregivers”
SPUC’s Michael Robinson, Executive Director (Public Affairs and Legal Services), said: “Caregivers are on the frontline of end-of-life care and know better than anyone else what their responsibilities entail and demand of them.
“Rather than trying to radically transform the definition of care, governments should be working with caregivers to help them do their jobs, as this joint ethical opinion requests. We must listen to our caregivers, not exclude them.
“Yet, as we have seen around the world, governments are increasingly turning to assisted suicide as a cheap and efficient alternative to the challenges of illness, old age, mental health and even poverty.
“This is not compassion or responsible care but a callous disregarding of ‘problem’ people who are considered a drain on state resources. It is up to organisations like SPUC to push back against this insidious death industry that increasingly threatens our vulnerable people.”
Over 10,000 killed by assisted suicide in Canada in 2021
Canada’s “medical assistance in dying” (MAiD) programme has caused alarm around the world as deaths from the scheme have risen exponentially in recent years, killing over 10,000 people in 2021 alone.
Jordan Peterson, the world-famous psychologist and social commentator, recently commented on the dire situation in his native Canada. “I don’t trust the people who can’t give you a passport in two weeks to decide whether or not grandma gets to live”, said Dr Peterson.
In one “shocking” example, a woman aged just 31 was conditionally approved for assisted suicide after failing to secure suitable accommodation because of “abject poverty”.
SPUC has called on the UK Government to reject any attempt to impose assisted suicide here. Scotland is currently considering such legislation, while a parliamentary inquiry in Westminster is also set to explore such a possibility this year.
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The example of Canada shows how assisted suicide is inherently unsafe, unpredictable and unethical. We cannot allow this to happen in the UK.
Please consider signing our online petition, “Reject Any Move to Legalise Assisted Suicide”, by clicking the link here.
We must send a strong message to our political leaders that assisted suicide is a dangerous and unethical practice that must never be legalised in any part of the UK. Please sign the petition now.