End of life

We believe in better care and support for those in the closing stages of life, and campaign against all forms of assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Human life is uniquely valuable and sacred since all people are created in the image of God. People who are suffering and near the end of life should be cared for properly and not put under any pressure to end their lives.

As it stands in the UK it is an offence under the Suicide Act 1961 to encourage or assist another person to commit suicide or attempt suicide. This is a helpful safeguard to protect weak and vulnerable people from being abused or pressured to end their lives.

There are ongoing attempts to change the law. Previous attempts were all rejected in parliament once the facts and arguments were made. There have also been a number of high-profile court cases seeking to win the right to assisted suicide, where judges rightly concluded that this is not how the law should be changed.

Legalising euthanasia or assisted suicide is unnecessary, dangerous, and wrong.

It is unnecessary because alternative treatments are available. Good palliative care should be available for all. Killing is not care – it is not kinder to take a life instead of caring for it.

It is dangerous because when people are ill, they are vulnerable and can easily be pressured to make decisions that they may later regret. Society should protect the weak and vulnerable rather than allowing them to be killed.

It is wrong because it devalues human life which is sacred. All historical codes of ethics have agreed that euthanasia is wrong. Disability organisations consistently oppose assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Christian Concern seeks to speak up for the weak and vulnerable by campaigning against the legalisation of euthanasia or assisted suicide.

Booklets

Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

Key articles

Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia

Act now to stop assisted suicide

12 reasons not to legalise assisted suicide

The anti-Christian heart of assisted suicide

Three bad arguments for euthanasia

What does the Bible say about euthanasia and assisted suicide?

When ‘end of life care’ goes wrong

Belgian euthanasia law ‘failing’ say Belgian academics

End of life cases

The tragic case of RS: why his life and his death matter

Man who wanted to live is left to die after court ruling

Forced euthanasia? From Alfie Evans to MSP

Videos

Gospel Issues: Should Christians support the ‘right to die’? – Dr Peter Saunders

Round the Table: Is assisted suicide compassionate?

Canada’s Spiralling Death Culture – Alex Schadenburg

Testimonies

‘I wake up in the night thinking they are taking the tube out of my daughter’

‘The answer to life-shortening illness is being cared for, not suicide’

Key Cases

Archie Battersbee

Sudiksha Thirumalesh

RS

The Abbasis

MSP

Indi Gregory

Nikki Kenward