Liverpool Care Pathway - Religion, Ethics And Euthanasia

The Hippocratic Oath formalises the relationship between the doctor and the patient. We cannot ask, nor expect, doctors sworn to preserve life to take life.

- The Christian Institute

- BBC/Religion

Chris: I am hoping that Lord Falconer's bill will make a much needed improvement to current legislation on assisted dying. His proposals, as we understand them today, will relate only to the terminally ill with no mention of the disabled or those with lengthy life expectation.

My opinion was reinforced years ago when I was living and working in Switzerland and was helped to administer palliatives of such strength that Sue, my love, in accordance with her own expressed wish died days later, gently and in her sleep.

The hospital had admitted there was nothing more that they could do. 

Life is too precious to give up on it, whether it is cut short by years, weeks or even days.

- Colin Harte

According to the Ultra Sound, she had the remains of one kidney, a part of her liver, less and less of the digestive tract still functioning. her pancreas and spleen were riddled with tumours'

They let me take her home for her last two weeks.

Colin: I very much oppose the suggested change in the law, and those involved with proper palliative care are also opposed to killing. They focus on alleviating distressing symptoms so that patients can both live well and die well.

My views are reinforced by my experience as a carer for 24 years for my friend Alison.

In the mid-1980s doctors thought she didn't have long to live and Alison wanted to end her life. She would have qualified for death under the expected terms of Lord Falconer's bill - but if she had been killed then nobody would have known that Alison could have lived for many years.

Life is too precious to give up on it, whether it is cut short by years, weeks or even days.