Conservative MP Mark Field has controversially spoken out about the recent death of 23-year old rugby player Daniel James.
He criticised comments that Daniel’s parents had made saying their son was a ‘second class citizen’ because he had been paralysed.
These comments were made just days after Daniel James had taken his life at the ‘Dignitas’ clinic in Switzerland.
At the House of Commons this Wednesday, Mr Field said that: ““The notion of a second class citizen is very dangerous as it implies that some lives are more valuable than others. There is a huge lack of common sense shown here.”
Mark Field questioned our rights to take our own lives and to be assisted in doing so, “The decision should be made by a higher unearthly power.”
The debate in The House of Commons on assisted suicide followed from the recent decision by the court not to change the law regarding assisted suicide.
The issue of Debbie Purdy
This issue has been brought into the media light by multiple-sclerosis sufferer Debbie Purdy who is also terminally ill.
Ms. Purdy wishes to take her life at the ‘Dignitas’ clinic in Switzerland, with the assistance of her husband, Omar Puente.
However, she wants to do so safe in the knowledge that her husband will not prosecuted for his assistance on his return to the UK. The law as it stands is a possible 14 years imprisonment for assisted suicide.
The notion of a second class citizen because of disability or terminal illnesses is not uncommon.
The implications made by this notion are dangerous and could be abusive to vulnerable people.
The House of Commons on Wednesday were strongly divided in their arguments with regard to assisted suicide and no conclusions were made.
However, everyone agreed that the issue must be discussed further in government time and new laws on the matter need to be drawn up.
He criticised comments that Daniel’s parents had made saying their son was a ‘second class citizen’ because he had been paralysed.
These comments were made just days after Daniel James had taken his life at the ‘Dignitas’ clinic in Switzerland.
At the House of Commons this Wednesday, Mr Field said that: ““The notion of a second class citizen is very dangerous as it implies that some lives are more valuable than others. There is a huge lack of common sense shown here.”
Mark Field questioned our rights to take our own lives and to be assisted in doing so, “The decision should be made by a higher unearthly power.”
The debate in The House of Commons on assisted suicide followed from the recent decision by the court not to change the law regarding assisted suicide.
The issue of Debbie Purdy
This issue has been brought into the media light by multiple-sclerosis sufferer Debbie Purdy who is also terminally ill.
Ms. Purdy wishes to take her life at the ‘Dignitas’ clinic in Switzerland, with the assistance of her husband, Omar Puente.
However, she wants to do so safe in the knowledge that her husband will not prosecuted for his assistance on his return to the UK. The law as it stands is a possible 14 years imprisonment for assisted suicide.
The notion of a second class citizen because of disability or terminal illnesses is not uncommon.
The implications made by this notion are dangerous and could be abusive to vulnerable people.
The House of Commons on Wednesday were strongly divided in their arguments with regard to assisted suicide and no conclusions were made.
However, everyone agreed that the issue must be discussed further in government time and new laws on the matter need to be drawn up.
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