Over the past few decades, there has been an increased push to legalise euthanasia/assisted suicide. None of these measures have succeeded.
However, a current drive may receive more backing than expected.
BACKGROUND
- A bill is going through Parliament that seeks to legalise assisted suicide or euthanasia
- Past efforts have failed, but this particular paper has the support of the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer
- We need to show our opposition by informing friends and family about the developing situation; writing to our MPs; and remembering that it is for Allah alone to decide when we die
Campaign by a TV presenter and an MP
Esther Rantzen
Most recently, high profile, emotive campaigns have sought to call for a change. Public figures such as TV presenter Esther Rantzen have called for such action.
When she was diagnosed with cancer, she launched a public petition calling for the legalisation of assisted suicide, which quickly reached 100,000 signatures, thereby triggering a parliamentary debate.
Her argument is that terminally ill people should be allowed to choose when and how they die.
Her campaign led to Keir Starmer committing to back a private members’ bill (PMB) by a Labour MP, with MPs being allowed a free vote. [1] [2]
Kim Leadbeater MP
When the Labour MP Kim Leadbeater came first in the ballot for introducing a PMB, she chose legalising euthanasia as her priority issue for legislative change. [1]
Most PMBs fail because they either don’t have sufficient support, or they don’t have government backing.
With Keir Starmer’s backing, this is not likely to happen.
So the only way it can be defeated is if MPs — who will have a free vote — vote against it at second reading on 29 November. [1]
Why is this bill dangerous?
Officially titled the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill 2024-25, it is dangerous for a number of reasons.
All life has inherent sanctity and value
This is a key point; Allah (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) says,
“Thus, We decreed upon the children of Israel that whoever kills a soul — unless as legal punishment for murder or for corruption in the land — it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one soul, it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.” [3]
Ibn Kathīr comments on the above:
“The verse means that whoever kills a soul without a just cause such as legal punishment for murder or for causing corruption on Earth, then it will be as if he has killed all people because there is no difference between one life and another.” [4]
Allah also states,
“We have certainly dignified the children of Ādam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created with definite preference.” [5]
Vulnerable elderly people seen as a burden will be pushed into ending their lives
You can include as many safeguards as possible into legislation, but once you open the door, where will this lead?
The families of elderly people who look upon them as a burden will pressurise them into making decisions that relieve them of that “burden”.
Slippery slope
Canada’s experience with euthanasia reveals a significant expansion from initial, strict safeguards to more lenient eligibility criteria.
Initially intended for terminally ill adults, eligibility soon included individuals with non-life-threatening conditions.
Court rulings and reinterpretations gradually removed the requirement for a “reasonably foreseeable death”, allowing euthanasia for disabilities and mental health conditions, with further pushes to include minors and those with mental illness.
Once politicians consent to legalising suicide, no matter the safeguards, it opens up for legal action by activists to remove said safeguards!
Terminal illness
The bill claims it seeks to allow terminally ill adults to end their lives, while doctors as human beings will make their best guess on when someone is terminal.
In 2017, a UCL study found that UK clinicians often inaccurately predict when terminally ill patients will die. [6]
Based on 26 previously published studies and 25,718 predictions, the following “Surprise Question” was posed:
“Would you be surprised if this patient died within the next 12 months?”
Predictions were correct only 46 per cent of the time, often leading to both overestimation and underestimation of patients’ life expectancy. [6]
Potentially, many people could end their lives much earlier than they would naturally pass away, based on inaccurate predictions.
Palliative care
Rather than legalising assisted suicide for people with terminal illness, the focus should be on providing better resources for palliative care services.
A stronger focus on this will provide comfort and care to those struggling with a terminal illness.
But the concern is that this bill could eventually lead to the NHS reducing resources for palliative care services.
Doctor-patient dynamic
Doctors are meant to care for their patients and preserve life.
This relationship is formed upon the basis of trust that is built over time and nurtured over an even longer duration.
If these legislative measures are passed, it will irreversibly shift that dynamic, erode trust, and place doctors in an unenviable position of ending rather than preserving life!
Doctors may be forced into decisions that run counter to their ethical positions.
What you need to do
Write to your MP in advance of the second reading and urge him/her to vote against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at the second reading on 29th November.
We are not providing a template letter because a short email — even a few lines that speak from your heart — is far more effective than a templated approach received a number of times.
Action points
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Find out who your MP is by clicking here.
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Write to them at their parliamentary email address.
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Include your home address, so they know you’re their constituent.
Source: Islam21c
Notes
[1] https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10123/
[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3e9031n142o
[3] al-Qur’ān, 5:32
[4] https://quran.com/5:32/tafsirs/en-tafisr-ibn-kathir
[5] al-Qur’ān, 17:70
No one has the right to take life, that’s called murder
Life is Life.no one has any power to terminate a life.
Let nature take it course.
We are human beings and planet earth is our country:
It is not about religion but morality : which we all human beings have : religion is the reminder about morality :
Human beings have limited understanding: as European had – when they were passing through dark ages.
Creator of the universe : which is evident through human experience- human experience gives birth to belief.
Every human being believes that killing is bad – if we allow assisted death & any body kill – and then can say – he or she wanted it – that is why I killed her or assisted her to full fill that desire:
For Muslim : islam is the guide line given by creator of the human – which is based upon absolute knowledge of the creator of the universe : we Muslims have this view that Creator of the universe knows absolutely: what is good and bad for us : human beings have been given this minimum knowledge of morality as well.
religion should never have say over law. it shouldn’t concern islam anyway, the UK is not a islamic state!
Thank you sincerely for this, perhaps we could come together and take action. Insha’Allah may our small efforts have enormous impact and effect.