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Vague Definitions

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The language of legislation is everything.

The assisted suicide bill is deceptive because it defines terminal illness in such vague terms. 

“Terminal illness” is defined very widely in Liam McArthur’s bill.

"For the purposes of this Act, a person is terminally ill if they have an advanced and progressive disease, illness or condition from which they are unable to recover and that can reasonably be expected to cause their premature death."

This means it can include people with irremediable medical conditions or people with disabilities.

And, just like in Canada, the McArthur bill only requires that the medical practitioner be “of the opinion” that the person meets the criteria of the law.

So, when suspicious cases outside of the parameters or “spirit” of the law are investigated, it is impossible to prosecute any medical practitioners.

All they need to say is that they were “of the opinion” that the person qualified.

This gives activist medical practitioners full immunity to extend the application of the law by practice.

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Promoting Care, Opposing Euthanasia

Care Not Killing was set up in 2006 as an alliance of individuals and organisations which brings together disability and human rights groups, healthcare providers, and faith-based bodies, with the aims of promoting more and better palliative care; ensuring that existing laws against euthanasia and assisted suicide are not weakened or repealed; and helping the public to understand the consequences of any further weakening of the law.

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