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Legalising voluntary euthanasia 'not an option' says church report

23 June 2000

The case for legalising Euthanasia is not supportable, according to a new edition of a groundbreaking Church of England report. On Dying well - a contribution to the Euthanasia debate was first published in 1975 and the new edition covers the advances made in medical and legal thinking in the past 25 years. The preface for the new edition concludes that, despite these advances, the ethical and theological case against it remains firm:

"Experience suggests that although it is an articulate minority who would like to see changes in the existing framework, it will be the poor and disadvantaged who suffer the consequences."

The report investigates the moral, theological, clinical and legal arguments on both sides and considers real cases, locating the issues in their clinical context. Despite the passing years, the Bishop of Oxford paid tribute to the report's continuing significance:

"Their contributions ... have continued to be of importance in the years since they met. The report's lasting value is a reflection of their wisdom and understanding."