A senior columnist has posited that the legalisation of assisted suicide in the UK would result in a significant number of vulnerable individuals being pressured to end their lives.
In an article published in The Times, the British journalist and former editor of The Sunday Telegraph, Dominic Lawson, asserted that the film Plan 75 presents a disconcerting and realistic portrayal of a morally ambiguous future that could potentially unfold in the United Kingdom.
The film depicts a future Japanese government implementing “Plan 75,” a program designed to manage its aging population. Under this plan, individuals over the age of 75 may be eligible for euthanasia, with the stipulation that they or their family receive $1,000.
The task is not as challenging as it may appear.
In a recent comment, Lawson stated: For a considerable period of time, I have been concerned about the potential impact of an ‘assisted dying’ law in this country on the disabled and their treatment.
He drew attention to the fact that his youngest daughter, who has Down’s syndrome, is “highly suggestible”, which in this context is a cause for concern.
In an interview with The Guardian, Chie Hayakawa, co-writer and director of Plan 75, stated: “A state-sanctioned solution such as Plan 75 is, in fact, quite feasible in a country where social intolerance towards those who are economically and socially disadvantaged is on the rise. This includes the elderly, the disabled, and those who lack financial resources.”
The concept of the “image of God” is a theological idea that posits that humans are created in the image of God.
In a statement released by The Christian Institute, Rhys Curnow, Senior Researcher at the aforementioned institution, made the following observation: Those engaged in the campaign for assisted suicide are unlikely to be pleased with the portrayal of incentivised euthanasia in Plan 75. Although the film is fictitious, it offers an important lesson.
The acceptance of assisted suicide or euthanasia by a society is tantamount to the denial of the intrinsic value of human life. If certain lives are deemed to be of no value, the right to die will soon become a duty to die.
In the context of our contemporary individualistic society, elderly, disabled and terminally ill individuals may experience a perception of being a burden. This film should prompt a more profound reflection on the concept of human dignity and the intrinsic value of life, which is imbued with the divine image.
The Parliament
In the preceding months, Members of Parliament were cautioned that the legalisation of assisted suicide would erode the culture of care for the vulnerable.
In a statement delivered in the House of Commons, the former President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Baroness Hollins, asserted that it is of the utmost importance for individuals to be made aware that they will be directed to the most appropriate form of support. However, she cautioned that the introduction of assisted suicide could potentially alter the prevailing cultural and attitudinal landscape.
The House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee is currently hearing evidence on a number of key issues related to palliative care, the role of medical professionals in assisted suicide, and the eligibility criteria for such services in England and Wales. In addition, the Committee is examining the current workflow in this area.
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
