Archbishop warns the consequences that assisted suicide approval would have in England

On September 12, the Chamber of Lords will discuss for the second time the Project of Assisted Suicide Law, whose approval would have several consequences that would involve the houses of the elderly and hospices administered by the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

The warning was launched by Mons. John Sherrington, archbishop of Liverpool and representative of the Catholic Episcopate of England and Wales for Affairs of Life.

“We reiterate our firm opposition to the project, both in principle and in practice. Despite being described by its promoters as the safest of its kind, the bill remains unfeasible. It puts at risk the security of our health institutions, professionals and patients,” he said In a statement published on September 1.

The prelate referred first to the future of residences and hospices that refuse to offer assisted suicide to go against their fundamental mission and ethical principles. “Cardinal Nichols and I pointed out before that ‘it is very likely that the right to assisted suicide granted to people becomes an obligation for residences and hospices to facilitate it,” he said.

In that sense, he regretted that the House of Commons has rejected at the time an amendment to the project so that employers could “prevent their employees from facilitating assisted suicide.” “As a result, there is a real danger that some residences and hospices are forced to limit significantly or even completely withdraw their services,” he said.

Secondly, the archbishop of Liverpool wrote that the Adult bill with terminal diseases (end of life) He undermines the duty of health professionals to take care of the sick, by allowing them to help them end their lives, “which fundamentally alters the relationship between the medical professional and the patient.”

“In addition, as he has declared The Catholic Medical Association (CMA)the conscientious clause of the bill is not adequate, despite the guarantees of its promoters. Many doctors may not, in practice, give up cooperating with the procedure, due to their duty to direct patients to information and a place where they can have a preliminary conversation, ”he said.

Finally, he warned that the life of vulnerable patients is put at risk due to insufficient guarantees against coercion. ” The Archbishop indicated that there is evidence that “patients are often pressed to opt for assisted suicide because they feel they are a burden for those who take care of them.”

The Prelate set as an example to Canada, where the assisted suicide was first legalized for a limited group, but then “people with non -terminal diseases and, soon, those who lack mental capacity are included. In addition, the introduction of assisted suicide does not reduce the total number of suicides”.

“The provision of palliative care must be prioritized, which, although they are excellent where they are offered, their scope is unequal throughout the country. The legalization of inevitably assisted suicide will inevitably undermine the resources destined for palliative care. Where there is no such benefit, people will inevitably feel pressed to end their lives,” he denounced.

Mons. Sherrington urged Catholics to continue praying so that this project is not approved, but at the same time urged them to get “in contact with the members of the House of Lords and, in particular, to share their personal or professional experience on this important matter”.