Monday, May 9, 2011

Survey of disabled people on assisted suicide welcome, says leading anti-euthanasia group SPUC Pro-Life



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Survey of disabled people on assisted suicide welcome, says leading anti-euthanasia group SPUC Pro-Life

London, 9 May 2011: A survey of disabled people’s concerns about the possible legalisation of assisted suicide has been welcomed by SPUC Pro-Life, a leading anti-euthanasia organisation.

The survey, commissioned by disability group Scope, found that 70% of disabled people are “concerned about pressure being placed on other disabled people to end their lives prematurely” “if there were a change in the law on assisted suicide”. The survey also found that most young adults share the concerns of older generations about the dangers of legalising assisted suicide.

Anthony Ozimic, SPUC Pro-Life’s communications manager, commented: “We welcome this survey and take encouragement from its findings. Scope, which commissioned the survey, is not part of the pro-life movement and there is no suggestion of it being partisan. The survey’s questions were worded fairly, unlike recent general public opinion polls which use the pro-euthanasia lobby’s euphemisms, such as ‘assisted dying’. Disabled people, including young adults, are increasingly alarmed by the celebrity-driven push for legalising assisted suicide. Disabled people want help to live well and die naturally, not lethal injections or poison-pills”, concluded Mr Ozimic.

Anthony Ozimic, SPUC Pro-Life’s communications manager, can be contacted on (0)7939 177683 or (020) 7820 3129. http://www.spuc.org.uk/

Notes for editors:
Scope-commissioned ComRes survey of disabled people, published 9 May 2011 http://bit.ly/mJ8BlZ

77% of disabled people aged 18-24 and 71% of disabled people aged 25-34 were “concerned about pressure being placed on other disabled people to end their lives prematurely” (“if there were a change in the law on assisted suicide”).