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	URGENT 18th March 2005. Dear ALERT supporter, MENTAL CAPACITY BILL Yesterday in the house of Lords Earl Howe, a Conservative front-bench spokesman, introduced Amendment 38 (see linked report), which aims to prevent people having the power of life and death over their relatives if they have been given the new "lasting power of attorney." Although the amendment was withdrawn, we hope and have reason to believe it will be re-introduced at Third Reading, which will be on Thursday 24th March - Maundy Thursday, PLEASE WILL YOU WRITE NOW to one or more of the Peers on the list below to ask them to BE PRESENT for this vitally important vote, and to support Earl Howe's amendment? If pro-life amendments are not passed next Thursday, the Bill should be rejected. The U.S. Congress intervened to try to save Terri Schiavo, whose husband had ordered her feeding tube to be removed. It will be totally shameful if Britain's Parliament in the same week passes a law to condemn people like Terri, and stroke victims who can't communicate, to a slow death from lack of water on the instructions of an attorney. Yours sincerely,   Hon. Secretary,
	Member:   Member:       Lord Rt Hon the Lord Blaker, KCMG Lord Kerr of Kinlochard, GCMG Baroness Blatch, CBE Lord Rt Hon Lamont of Lerwick Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville, CH, PC Lord McColl of Dulwich, CBE Lord Carlile of Berriew, QC Bishop of  Norwich Lord Christopher, CBE Baroness O'Cathain, OBE Baroness Cox Baroness Park of Monmouth, CMG, OBE   Lord Rt Hon the Earl Ferrers, DL Lord Saatchi Lord Glenarthur, DL Lord Swinfen Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach Lord Tebbit, CH Baroness Hanham, CBE Baroness Trumpington Lord Rt Hon the Lord Jenkin of Roding   All at House of Lords, London, SW1A 0PW