That this House notes the most recent report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights which is severely critical of sections of the Mental Capacity Bill; notes in particular the criticism of those sections dealing with the withholding and withdrawing of life-sustaining treatment and of assisted food and fluids; further notes the conclusion that the presumption in favour of life-sustaining treatment in relation to the withdrawal of assisted food and fluids is not sufficiently strong in the Bill to satisfy the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights (Articles 2, 3 and 8); believes that it would be disastrous if the Bill, which has the laudable aim of seeking to transform the lives of mentally incapacitated individuals and their carers, were to become a vehicle for the introduction of euthanasia; regrets that, despite Government assurances, the declaratory provision in Clause 58 that nothing in the Bill is to be taken to affect the law relating to murder, manslaughter and suicide is not sufficient to rule out the threat of euthanasia by omission posed by the Bill; and calls upon the Government to take note of the report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights and to amend the Mental Capacity Bill to make it clear that it gives no statutory authority to any decision made with a purpose of bringing about the death of the person about whose personal welfare the decision is made.

That this House notes the most recent report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights which is severely critical of sections of the Mental Capacity Bill; notes in particular the criticism of those sections dealing with the withholding and withdrawing of life-sustaining treatment and of assisted food and fluids; further...

That this House notes with concern the biased and undisciplined trends in BBC coverage on a variety of issues of public policy, thus contravening the BBC charter; further notes that this has been particularly apparent on ethical issues such as euthanasia; further notes that a number of honourable Members were involved in correspondence with Mr Greg Dyke, the former Director General, on the matter of persistent bias on the question of euthanasia and, in particular, received no satisfaction on the failure of the BBC to interview the disabled or terminally ill unless they declared support for legalised euthanasia; regrets that this has been particularly apparent in the case of patients suffering from motor neurone disease; notes that a number of programmes were so biased that they were sent out by the Voluntary Euthanasia Society to Peers when they were seeking support for a bill to legalise euthanasia; regrets that no BBC programme was so even-handed that it could be used to present both sides of the case to Peers; and calls on the Solicitor General to encourage the BBC governors to ensure that Mr Greg Dyke's successor has a greater understanding of the BBC Charter which he will be required to implement.

That this House notes with concern the biased and undisciplined trends in BBC coverage on a variety of issues of public policy, thus contravening the BBC charter; further notes that this has been particularly apparent on ethical issues such as euthanasia; further notes that a number of honourable Members were...

That this House welcomes the introduction of the Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill and the opportunity it presents to allow terminally ill adults to make a considered request for medical assistance to die; notes that the Joint Committee on Human Rights, who examined the Bill, concluded that, '...the safeguards set out in the Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill would be adequate to protect the interests and rights of vulnerable patients. They would ensure that nobody could lawfully be subjected to assisted dying without his or her fully informed consent'; and believes that this Bill is in accordance with the views of 80 per cent. of the population who support this proposal.

That this House welcomes the introduction of the Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill and the opportunity it presents to allow terminally ill adults to make a considered request for medical assistance to die; notes that the Joint Committee on Human Rights, who examined the Bill, concluded that, '...the safeguards set out...

That this House welcomes the recent statements from the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Physicians opposing the Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill, a Bill that seeks to legalise assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia; notes the BMA's assertion that legalising euthanasia or assisted suicide would have a profound and detrimental effect on the doctor-patient relationship; further notes that the Royal College of Physicians states that the Bill is the wrong response to the problem of unalleviated suffering and is potentially dangerous; further notes a recent independent survey of doctors that showed a considerable majority oppose assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia and that almost three out of four doctors would refuse to perform such practices if they were legalised; and calls upon the Government to reiterate its opposition to the legalisation of assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia and to devote more resources to palliative and geriatric care.

That this House welcomes the recent statements from the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Physicians opposing the Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill, a Bill that seeks to legalise assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia; notes the BMA's assertion that legalising euthanasia or assisted suicide would have a profound and...

That this House notes the suffering of patients with Motor Neurone Disease and similarly debilitating diseases and recognises the anguish of the families who care for loved ones with these conditions; regrets that these patients are being used by a lobby in favour of assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia; regrets that this lobby is using the media to frighten people who may be in the early stages of these diseases; notes that palliative care is of such a high quality in the UK that these patients need not die in pain or fear; notes that specialists within the Hospice Movement have repeatedly stated that Motor Neurone Disease patients in their care very rarely, if ever, choke to death today; calls on the media to be more responsible and less biased in their coverage of this difficult topic; regrets that BBC News 24 claimed that the response to a poll, published on 20th January, indicated that 90 per cent. of British people support legalising euthanasia without giving the number of its respondents, and has refused to give the figures to interested parties since the poll; and demands that the Government do not change the existing law, and that euthanasia in all its forms, including assisted suicide, should remain illegal.

That this House notes the suffering of patients with Motor Neurone Disease and similarly debilitating diseases and recognises the anguish of the families who care for loved ones with these conditions; regrets that these patients are being used by a lobby in favour of assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia; regrets...

That this House notes the Lord Chancellor's Consultation Paper, 'Making Decisions: Helping People Who Have Difficulty Deciding For Themselves'; notes that groups consulted for the document included the Voluntary Euthanasia Society and the British Medical Association both of which promote euthanasia by omission; regrets the Lord Chancellor's failure to consult with the British Hospice movement, an international beacon of excellence in the care of the terminally ill and dying; notes that no pro-life, Christian, Jewish nor Muslim medical groups were consulted; notes the Lord Chancellor's document refers inquirers to the VES for guidance on living wills and medical teams to the BMA guidelines on the Withdrawal and Withholding of Life Prolonging Treatment, a document condemned by the Chief Rabbi, Muslim leaders, the Evangelical Alliance, the Roman Catholic Church and many others for its promotion of medical killing by the withdrawal of assisted food and fluid from a wide range of patients; notes that 'Making Decisions' in line with the recommendations from an earlier Government publication of the same title, envisages a reformed 'Court of Protection' which could be beneficial regarding financial problems and such like; but regrets that this court may be used to extend the practice of non-voluntary euthanasia by omission, even over-riding the wishes of families (or patients' advance directives) in denying assisted food and fluid; urges the Government to honour its pledge to oppose euthanasia; and calls upon it to introduce legislation outlawing the withdrawal of assisted food and fluid with the purpose of causing death in patients.

That this House notes the Lord Chancellor's Consultation Paper, 'Making Decisions: Helping People Who Have Difficulty Deciding For Themselves'; notes that groups consulted for the document included the Voluntary Euthanasia Society and the British Medical Association both of which promote euthanasia by omission; regrets the Lord Chancellor's failure to consult...

That this House notes that over two years have passed since the launch of the British Medical Association's Guidelines on Withholding and Withdrawing Life-Prolonging Treatment which advocated extending the withdrawal of treatment, including assisted food and fluid, from patients who were not dying; notes that this form of treatment was described in the Voluntary Euthanasia Society Scotland Newsletter as a 'form of non-voluntary euthanasia'; regrets, therefore, that the Department of Health has failed to inform hospitals that withdrawing food and fluid with the specific purpose of causing the death of patients contravenes the European Convention on Human Rights which 'guarantees that no-one should be deprived of his life intentionally'; therefore welcomes the Right to Life Human-Rights Care Card which people may carry in the same way that they currently carry organ-donor cards; notes that over 30 Right honourable and honourable Members and Peers attended the function to launch the card; applauds the fact that it makes clear that if anybody withdraws food and fluid (howsoever delivered) from the carrier with the purpose of causing death, they could be faced with legal action, followed if necessary by an application to the European Court of Human Rights; and calls on the Government to honour its pledge to oppose euthanasia and ensure that the Human-Rights Care Card is publicised through all relevant official channels.

That this House notes that over two years have passed since the launch of the British Medical Association's Guidelines on Withholding and Withdrawing Life-Prolonging Treatment which advocated extending the withdrawal of treatment, including assisted food and fluid, from patients who were not dying; notes that this form of treatment was...

That this House notes admissions by leading members of the euthanasia lobby such as Professor Sheila McLean that the withdrawal of treatment, including food and fluid, to end the lives of PVS patients and others who are not dying endorses 'a form of non-voluntary euthanasia'; regrets that the Department of Health has done nothing to halt such practices; observes wide scale newspaper reports that the denial of resuscitation and of assisted food and fluid to elderly and some sick patients is spreading alarmingly; notes that this attitude reflects aspects of the BMA guidelines on Withholding and Withdrawing Life-Prolonging Medical Treatment which advocate extending the withdrawal of treatment, including tube feeding to a wide range of patients who are not in PVS; notes that the Deputy Minister for Community Care in Scotland has stated that doctors who follow the BMA Guidelines would be open to a criminal prosecution; regrets the failure, nonetheless, of the Department of Health to make if clear that the BMA Guidelines are not legal guidelines; notes that the Department must therefore accept responsibility for the treatment of elderly patients in some sectors of the NHS; further notes that throughout the debates on the Medical Treatment (Prevention of Euthanasia) Bill the Department of Health also supported misinformed attacks by the BMA to obstruct the Bill; and invites the Government to reconsider its position and honour its stated opposition to euthanasia and to ensure the Bill is given adequate time to complete all stages.

That this House notes admissions by leading members of the euthanasia lobby such as Professor Sheila McLean that the withdrawal of treatment, including food and fluid, to end the lives of PVS patients and others who are not dying endorses 'a form of non-voluntary euthanasia'; regrets that the Department of...

That this House notes that physician-assisted-suicide advocate, Professor Sheila McLean, stated in April 1996 in the Voluntary Euthanasia Society Scotland Newsletter that the routes taken by courts in judgments allowing the withdrawal of treatment, including food and fluid, to end the lives of those in a persistent vegetative state and other patients 'endorse a form of non-voluntary euthanasia'; notes that she was a member of the drafting committee of the British Medical Association Guidelines on Withholding and Withdrawing Life-Prolonging Medical Treatment which advocates extending the withdrawal of tube feeding to a range of patients who are not in PVS and who are not dying; regrets that the Government's report, Making Decisions, endorses much of the BMA guidelines, which, if adopted, would serve to consolidate further the practice of medical killing by omission; further notes that in Scotland, the Deputy Minister for Community Care, Iain Gray, has said that any doctor who follows the BMA guidelines on non-PVS patients such as those who have suffered a stroke would be open to criminal prosecution; welcomes the Minister's statement that the Incapable Adults (Scotland) Bill 'makes no distinction between different means of delivering food and water'; further welcomes the Minister's clarification that 'nothing in the Bill will permit a patient to be denied basic care, or to be starved, dehydrated or otherwise mistreated'; and calls on the Government to adopt a similar position and withdraw its opposition to the Medical Treatment (Prevention of Euthanasia) Bill and to honour its pledges to oppose euthanasia.

That this House notes that physician-assisted-suicide advocate, Professor Sheila McLean, stated in April 1996 in the Voluntary Euthanasia Society Scotland Newsletter that the routes taken by courts in judgments allowing the withdrawal of treatment, including food and fluid, to end the lives of those in a persistent vegetative state and...

That this House welcomes the individual statements from the Chief Rabbi, Professor Jonathan Sacks, and from His Grace Cardinal Thomas Winning of Glasgow, each expressing deep regret and concern at the BMA guidelines on withholding and withdrawing nutrition and hydration from patients; notes that both these important religious leaders view with alarm the fact that such treatment would deliberately end the lives of patients and 'represent a shift from a value system in which human life is considered sacrosanct to one in which its value is relative and subjective'; applauds their call to politicians, regardless of political affiliation, 'to exert their influence to curb the disturbing trend towards the legislation of euthanasia'; and in response calls, once again, on the Secretary of State immediately to circulate all hospitals and health care workers to emphasise that the BMA guidelines contravene the present law and should not be adopted.

That this House welcomes the individual statements from the Chief Rabbi, Professor Jonathan Sacks, and from His Grace Cardinal Thomas Winning of Glasgow, each expressing deep regret and concern at the BMA guidelines on withholding and withdrawing nutrition and hydration from patients; notes that both these important religious leaders view...

That this House notes recent reports that deaths have occurred in hospitals because assisted nutrition and hydration were deliberately withheld from patients who wre not terminally ill; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to make this practice clearly illegal.

That this House notes recent reports that deaths have occurred in hospitals because assisted nutrition and hydration were deliberately withheld from patients who wre not terminally ill; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to make this practice clearly illegal.

That this House notes that in evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on Medical Ethics the British Medical Association opposed legally binding living wills/advance directives; notes that because of potential misunderstandings, unreported changes of mind and pressures from doctors, relatives and legatees this view is shared by doctors from the hospice movement and other medical disciplines caring for the aged; notes the BMA Ethics Committee nevertheless has published a document accepting living wills as legally binding, warning that doctors declining to abide by them risk charges of assault although such directives may only be signed pre-printed cards, smart cards, or notes recorded in patients' files; notes that although that document has not been discussed by its Annual Conference, a BMA adviser on medical ethics writes in the British Medical Journal of 24th June that even 'conversational oral statements', such as conversing before television, are open to debate and that medical bodies should consider the conditions under which these should be binding; notes the disingenuity of claims by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State that the Government is opposed to legalising euthanasia whilst asserting that living wills are legally binding in common law; invites the honourable Member for Bolton West to provide the House and the Lord Chancellor's Committee considering the Government's response to the flawed Law Commission Report on Mental Incapacity, with details of the authority for that assertion by listing each court decision in which an advance directive was held to be legally binding.

That this House notes that in evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on Medical Ethics the British Medical Association opposed legally binding living wills/advance directives; notes that because of potential misunderstandings, unreported changes of mind and pressures from doctors, relatives and legatees this view is shared by doctors...

That this House welcomes the decisive vote in the Northern Territory Parliament of Australia to legalise voluntary euthanasia for terminally ill people; regards the right of self determination at the end of life as a basic human right; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislation to extend this right to the citizens of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

That this House welcomes the decisive vote in the Northern Territory Parliament of Australia to legalise voluntary euthanasia for terminally ill people; regards the right of self determination at the end of life as a basic human right; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislation to extend this...

That this House notes with interest that in March BBC 2 has arranged to broadcast the Dutch television programme 'Death on Request', which records a Dutch doctor administering a lethal injection to his terminally ill patient; is concerned that the BBC should accurately report the real situation in the Netherlands where in a substantial number of cases euthanasia is carried out without a request from the patients, where the hospice and specialist palliative care movement is very much less developed than in the United Kingdom with the result that patients may request euthanasia in the absence of effective specialist palliative care, and that as a result of the ruling of the Dutch Supreme Court, doctors in the Netherlands may practice euthanasia not only on the physically sick, but also the mentally ill and those who are simply depressed; and calls on the BBC to give a complete and balanced picture of the situation, including prime time for the discussion of the full experience of the slippery slope in the Netherlands and the work of the hospice movement.

That this House notes with interest that in March BBC 2 has arranged to broadcast the Dutch television programme 'Death on Request', which records a Dutch doctor administering a lethal injection to his terminally ill patient; is concerned that the BBC should accurately report the real situation in the Netherlands...

That this House welcomes the recent vote in Oregon State, in the United States of America, which allows competent adult patients suffering from a terminal illness to request a prescription for medication to end his or her life in a humane and dignified manner; notes the recent British Medical Journal survey of National Health Service doctors which revealed that nearly half of the doctors surveyed had been asked by a patient to take active steps to hasten death; regards the right of self deliverance as a basic human right which should be extended to all citizens of this country; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislation to allow citizens to exercise this right.

That this House welcomes the recent vote in Oregon State, in the United States of America, which allows competent adult patients suffering from a terminal illness to request a prescription for medication to end his or her life in a humane and dignified manner; notes the recent British Medical Journal...

That this House notes the existence in draft of a Medical Treatment (Advance Directives) Bill promoted by the Voluntary Euthanasia Society; further notes that this draft Bill provides for the legislation of the killing of patients by starvation and dehydration; expresses its horror at such moves to involve members of the caring profession in euthanasia; and calls on honourable Members to affirm their opposition to any moves to legalise euthanasia in Britain and their support for the encouragement of the hospice movement in its work in caring for the terminally ill.

That this House notes the existence in draft of a Medical Treatment (Advance Directives) Bill promoted by the Voluntary Euthanasia Society; further notes that this draft Bill provides for the legislation of the killing of patients by starvation and dehydration; expresses its horror at such moves to involve members of...

That this House salutes the success of all those involved in the hospice movement and in palliative care; congratulates those who care for the terminally ill and the dying on the great progress which has been achieved in the development of palliative medicine in the United Kingdom; notes with profound concern the fact that in the Netherlands euthanasia now accounts for 3,700 deaths each year of which more than 1, 000 are as a result of involuntary euthanasia; and registers its opposition to the decriminalisation of euthanasia in this country.

That this House salutes the success of all those involved in the hospice movement and in palliative care; congratulates those who care for the terminally ill and the dying on the great progress which has been achieved in the development of palliative medicine in the United Kingdom; notes with profound...

That this House notes with deep concern the decision of Dillons bookshop to stock the book The Final Exit, which gives details of methods of committing suicide, including suffocation, starvation, and mixtures of drugs and alcohol; believes that publication of such a book is directly contrary to the spirit of the law; urges retailers to remove this work immediately from their shelves; and calls upon the Attorney General to bring prosecutions against those who do not.

That this House notes with deep concern the decision of Dillons bookshop to stock the book The Final Exit, which gives details of methods of committing suicide, including suffocation, starvation, and mixtures of drugs and alcohol; believes that publication of such a book is directly contrary to the spirit of...