It's life or death, says MP (From Stroud News and Journal)

It's life or death, says MP

STROUD'S MP has accused the Government of backing a campaign that could result in the spread of euthanasia.

David Drew is calling on fellow MPs to come clean and honour their pledge to oppose mercy killing.

Mr Drew is among the leaders in the campaign staged by MPs of all parties who claim the Department of Health and the Lord Chancellor's office are working in collaboration with the Voluntary Euthanasia Society in the production of a document "Making Decisions; Helping People Who have Difficulty Deciding For Themselves."

"The document is literally a matter of life and death - yours and mine," warned Mr Drew last week.

Under present law, tubal feeding may only be withdrawn with the consent of the High Court. One of the most disbursing aspects of the document, Mr Drew feels, is that orthodox medical groups and religious bodies had been ignored.

"They did not even refer to consultation with the British Hospice movement which was looked on throughout the world as a beacon of excellence in the care of the terminally ill and dying," he said.

"Here we are faced with a Government document that would quickly spread the use of medical killing by omission," he added.

"We know that euthanasia by omission is being introduced by stealth in an increasing number of hospitals which obviously feel confident of tacit support from the Department of Health and the Lord Chancellor's office," said Mr Drew.

But he promised: "Sympathetic MPs are determined to find a case to take to the European Court of Human Rights."