Hundreds of medical pros pledge to refuse assisted-dying proposal

Lt. Cmdr. Marissa Mayor, a general surgeon with Fleet Surgical Team 7, observes her patient prior to conducting a surgical walkthrough during a mass casualty drill to assess skills and coordination between integrated units aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America in the Philippine Sea, June 18, 2021. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Karis Mattingly)

Nearly 200 health-care professionals in Scotland have pledged to refuse to help out if the nation’s proposed assisted-dying law takes effect.

The Scotsman reported that they have joined to sign a letter stating, “We write with great concern regarding the introduce of a bill to legalize assisted suicide in Scotland.”

The letter was dispatched to Health Secretary Humza Yousaf.

The letter campaign was set up by Our Duty of Care, and followed the introduction of the bill by Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur.

The report said signatories included David Galloway, the recently retired consultant surgeon and previous president of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow, and Professor Marie Fallon – the palliative medicine professor from Edinburgh.

The letter continues, “The shift from preserving life to taking life is enormous and should not be minimized. The prohibition of killing is present in almost all civilized societies due the immeasurable worth of every human life. Everyone has a right to life under Article 1 of The Human Rights Act 1998 such that no one should be deprived of that life intentionally.

“Some patients may never consider assisted suicide unless it was suggested to them. The cruel irony of this path is that legislation introduced with the good intention of enhancing patient choice will diminish the choices of the most vulnerable. As health care professionals, we have a legal duty of care for the safety and well-being of our patients.”

The signers pledge, “We the undersigned will not take patients’ lives – even if they ask us to. But for the sake of us all, we ask that the law remains unchanged.”

A previous attempt to create assisted suicide, back in 2015, was resoundingly defeated in a vote in parliament there.

Dr. Gillian Wright, who works in medical ethics, helped set up the coalition of medics, the report said, revealing, “Our Duty of Care is supported by a wide range of healthcare professionals, and has campaigned during the membership polls run by the Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of General Practitioners and British Medical Association to maintain medical opposition to assisted suicide.”

The Christian Institute said yet another assisted suicide bill was defeated by a vote in 2010.

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