Urgent appeal for action on palliative care and euthanasia bills

Lord David Alton has sent the following urgent message: Please do everything you can to get as many people as possible writing (or more importantly) telephoning their MPs and urging them to attend the House on January 25 to support the Jim Dobbin Palliative Care Ten Minute Rule Bill. In the usual way there is no vote on Ten-Minute Rule Bills: but it is possible that one might occur. On this occasion Jim is determined to push ahead and we are desperate to get as big a vote as possible. The telephone number at the House of Commons is 020 7219 3000. Also do everything you can to persuade as many people as possible to write to peers re the Joffe Bill. RTL has a complete list of Peers if anybody wants them. I am sure you will do all you can to help. PLEASE DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO HAVE THE NOTICES BELOW PUBLISHED IN YOUR PARISH NEWSLETTER AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY; House of Commons: Jim Dobbin is introducing a Ten-Minute Rule Bill requiring palliative care for the terminally ill. Despite tremendous developments in the hospice movement far too many people are still dying in great discomfort. This is totally unnecessary and plays into the hands of the euthanasia movement. Please write to (or telephone) our MP ..NAME.. at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA. Telephone 020 7219 3000 and ask to speak the MP or his/her secretary. The Bill. is to be debated on Wednesday, 25th January. It is essential for MPs to make clear to their party leaders that they support Jim Dobbin's move and that they let him know. The short title of the Bill is "Palliative Care for the Terminally Ill" and the long title states "That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require the provision of palliative care for persons suffering from a terminal illness and for connected purposes". Urge the MP to attend the debate if possible to support Jim in case there is a vote. Further information from The Right To Life, PO Box 26264, London W3 9WF. Telephone 020 8992 7657 House of Lords: For the third time in the last three years, Lord Joffe is introducing a Bill to legalise 'assisted dying' by allowing doctors to provide drugs so that patients can be killed or can kill themselves. It is obvious that Lord Joffe is working on the principle of wearing down any opposition to euthanasia. It is essential that we write to as many peers as possible urging them to vote against the Bill. It is important to stress that without exception every disability rights organisation in the United Kingdom is opposed to the Bill and they stress that the legalisation of euthanasia in any form would completely undermine the rights of people with disabilities. Peers should be written to at the House of Lords, London, SW1A 0PW. Lists of peers and further information from The Right To Life, PO Box 26264, London W3 9WF. Telephone 020 8992 7657.