Press release from The Iona Institute

Permitting assisted suicide would send a terrible signal to
vulnerable people

December
7, 2012 – THE High Court is currently hearing the case of Marie
Fleming, a Multiple Sclerosis sufferer who is claiming the right to die by
assisted suicide.

The
Iona Institute does not believe that the right to die can be regarded purely as
a matter of personal autonomy. The wider societal implications of granting such
a right cannot be ignored and must be the first consideration of the
court.

In
particular, the effect on other vulnerable people of recognising such a right
must be taken into account.

Dr
John Murray of The Iona Institute said: “It is perfectly understandable and
right that we should feel great compassion for people who are suffering and
especially those who are terminally ill. But it is another thing to claim that
people have a right to kill themselves or a right to look for help from others
to commit suicide. No-one has a right to take an innocent human life. People
deserve the best palliative care, but no-one has the right to look to doctors or
nurses, or anyone else, for help in killing themselves.”

“Furthermore,
when discussing whether there is a ‘right to die’, the effect on other people
suffering from terrible illnesses of creating such a ‘right’ must also be
considered. If we allow that people suffering from MS or Motor Neuron Disease or
Parkinson’s can end their lives with the help of someone when their disease
reaches a very advanced stage, what signal is this sending to other people
suffering from the same diseases? What signal is it sending to their families
and to society at large?”

He
continued: “In general, we are very careful when reporting suicides not to
create a ‘copy-cat’ effect. We know that there are many vulnerable people in
society who might be considering suicide and we have to be very careful not to
inadvertently tell them, in effect, that their lives are not worth
living.”

He
concluded: “The very same considerations ought to be taken into account in the
case of assisted suicide. Permitting it would not create a more humane society
but would likely have the effect of making vulnerable people even more
vulnerable.”

ENDS

Notes to
Editors

The Iona Institute is a
pro-marriage, pro-religion think tank.