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Euthanasia Bill and Baroness Warnock:

Medical Ethics Replaced by Crude Economics

The anti-euthanasia group ALERT is appealing to Members of Parliament to heed the public concern aroused by Baroness Warnock's outspoken remarks about euthanasia, on the eve of the vote on the Mental Capacity Bill.

In the Sunday Times (12 Dec 04) Baroness Warnock argues for euthanasia saying that it would be preferable to living in a nursing home which "would be a terrible waste of money that my family could use better, or even that society could use better with inheritance tax."

Commenting on her remarks, ALERT spokesman, Colin Harte said:

"Baroness Warnock's remarks also seem to explain the Government's attempt to legalise euthanasia in the Mental Capacity Bill. The Government's position, like hers, has little or nothing to do with medical ethics and everything to do with crude economics. The Bill will allow euthanasia by neglect for those who previously said they wanted to die, as well as euthanasia for those who previously expressed no view. Inevitably, this will save the Government millions in the health care budget."

"Baroness Warnock let the cat out of the bag when she admitted that she "was not really allowed to say" that her motive for being in favour of euthanasia was wanting to avoid being a burden. In fact, the Government has kept a very careful policy of silence about the euthanasia provisions in the Mental Capacity Bill. It has claimed to be against euthanasia whilst vigorously promoting Britain's first euthanasia statue. We hope that Parliament holds the Government to account and votes against this attempt to legalise euthanasia."

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For further comment or to arrange interviews in connection with the Mental Capacity Bill, contact ALERT, 020 7730 2800 or Colin Harte 07963 996336.