Care Not Killing is an alliance of several organisations who are opposed to the legalisation of
euthanasia
Euthanasia (from el, εὐθανασία 'good death': εὖ, ''eu'' 'well, good' + θάνατος, ''thanatos'' 'death') is the practice of intentionally ending life to eliminate pain and suffering.
Different countries have different eut ...
or physician-
assisted suicide
Assisted suicide is suicide undertaken with the aid of another person. The term usually refers to physician-assisted suicide (PAS), which is suicide that is assisted by a physician or other healthcare provider. Once it is determined that the p ...
in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
. Their goals include promoting more and better
palliative care
Palliative care (derived from the Latin root , or 'to cloak') is an interdisciplinary medical caregiving approach aimed at optimizing quality of life and mitigating suffering among people with serious, complex, and often terminal illnesses. Wit ...
, ensuring that existing laws against euthanasia and assisted suicide are not weakened or repealed during the lifetime of the current
Parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
, influencing the balance of public opinion against any weakening of the law. They are opposed in their efforts by pro-assisted dying groups such as
Dignity in Dying
Dignity in Dying (originally The Voluntary Euthanasia Legalisation Society) is a United Kingdom nationwide campaigning organisation. It is funded by voluntary contributions from members of the public, and as of December 2010, it claimed to hav ...
and
Humanists UK
Humanists UK, known from 1967 until May 2017 as the British Humanist Association (BHA), is a charitable organisation which promotes secular humanism and aims to represent "people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious be ...
. Since its inception, the role of Campaign Director had been filled by the CEO of the
Christian Medical Fellowship
The Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF), founded in 1949, is an evangelical, interdenominational organisation that links together Christian doctors, medical students, nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom (UK).
CMFs stated aims are "uniting ...
, Peter Saunders, who worked for the organisation
pro bono
( en, 'for the public good'), usually shortened to , is a Latin phrase for professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment. In the United States, the term typically refers to provision of legal services by legal professionals for pe ...
. He left the role in December 2018.
Alliance members
The members of the alliance include:
*
Christian Medical Fellowship
The Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF), founded in 1949, is an evangelical, interdenominational organisation that links together Christian doctors, medical students, nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom (UK).
CMFs stated aims are "uniting ...
*
The Church of England
The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...
*
The Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland.
The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Scottish Reformation, Reformation of 1560, when it split from t ...
*
RADAR (The Disability Network)
2006 petition
Care Not Killing launched a petition in opposition to a
Bill
Bill(s) may refer to:
Common meanings
* Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States)
* Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature
* Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer
* Bill, a bird or animal's beak
Plac ...
put forward by
Lord Joffe
Joel Goodman Joffe, Baron Joffe, (12 May 1932 – 18 June 2017) was a South African-born British lawyer and Labour peer in the House of Lords.
Life and career
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to the Joffe family. His mother was born in Man ...
. This was signed by 102,363 people in four weeks, and presented to
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street in London, also known colloquially in the United Kingdom as Number 10, is the official residence and executive office of the first lord of the treasury, usually, by convention, the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Along wi ...
on May 12, 2006.
See also
*
Euthanasia in the United Kingdom
Active euthanasia is illegal in the United Kingdom.
Passive euthanasia
Although it is an offence to actively end a patient's life, many doctors still assist their patients with their wishes by withholding treatment and reducing pain, "accordin ...
*
Not Dead Yet
Not Dead Yet (NDY) is a United States disability rights group that opposes assisted suicide and euthanasia for disabled people. Diane Coleman, JD, is the founder and president of this national group. Stephen Drake, a research analyst with NDY, ...
, a similar group in the United States
References
{{Reflist
Anti-euthanasia alliance launched - BBC News
External links
Care Not Killing alliance
Euthanasia in the United Kingdom
Medical and health organisations based in the United Kingdom
Palliative care in the United Kingdom