JOHN SMEATON, DIRECTOR OF SPUC: Nicklinson euthanasia ruling welcomed by SPUC Pro-Life

Thursday, 16 August 2012

Nicklinson euthanasia ruling welcomed by SPUC Pro-Life

Tony Nicklinson

SPUC Pro-Life has welcomed the High Court’s rejection today of the pro-euthanasia requests in the Tony Nicklinson and ‘Martin’ cases.

Paul Tully, SPUC Pro-Life's general secretary, told the media earlier today:

“We welcome the High Court’s ruling, and we question whether those who have encouraged Mr Nicklinson and 'Martin' to pursue this legal action have the best interests of disabled people at heart. The court has reiterated once again that direct, active, voluntary euthanasia is unlawful in English and European law. To have allowed euthanasia would have seriously undermined both the laws against homicide and the right to life enshrined in the European Convention of Human Rights. Those who are sick, vulnerable or disabled need the law to be robust in protecting the inviolability of every human life. That is why SPUC Pro-Life was officially represented before the courts in the Debbie Purdy and Diane Pretty cases. Compassion and solidarity are the humane and caring responses to ‘locked-in’ syndrome. To legalise killing of those who are suffering would adversely affect many, many people. We believe that Mr Nicklinson and ‘Martin’ have lives of equal value to any other member of society. We urge those around them to rise to the challenge of helping them realise their value and overcome their sense of hopelessness.

We trust that today’s judgment will help end the insidious campaign in the British courts to change the law on assisted suicide and euthanasia. SPUC Pro-Life will be making further comments on the High Court’s ruling as soon as the details are available."

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About Me

I became involved in SPUC after graduating, when I established a branch in south London in 1974. I have worked full-time for SPUC for 42 years. I became chief executive of SPUC in the UK in 1996, having been general secretary since 1978. I was elected vice-president of International Right to Life Federation in 2005. At UN conferences in Cairo, Copenhagen, Beijing, Istanbul and Rome, I helped coordinate more than 150 pro-life/pro-family groups resulting in pro-life victories in Cairo, Istanbul and Rome. I was educated at Salesian College, London, before going to Oxford where I graduated in English Language and Literature. I qualified as a teacher, becoming head of English at a secondary school. I am married to Josephine. We have a grown-up family and we live in north London.