Respect for life: CultureWatchs Bill Muehlenberg, Cherish Life Queensland president Julie Borger and HOPE: No Euthanasias Paul Russell at the forum at the Queensland Parliamentary Annex in Brisbane. <\/p>\n
THE euthanasia debate is full of horror stories, the author of a new book on the subject Bill Muehlenberg says. <\/p>\n
Mr Muehlenberg said people could learn from abuses that have occurred elsewhere in the world where euthanasia was legalised, including Holland and Belgium. <\/p>\n
Speaking at a forum at the Queensland Parliamentary Annex in Brisbane, promoting his new book The Challenge of Euthanasia, he described the slippery slope. <\/p>\n
The event was live-streamed to members of 14 Cherish Life branches across Queensland. <\/p>\n
Consider the Remmelink Report, an official Dutch government survey of euthanasia practices, found that more than one thousand patients are involuntarily euthanised each year, Mr Muehlenberg, from CultureWatch, said. <\/p>\n
As one Oxford philosopher put it, the Dutch experience clearly shows that even with stringent safeguards, once voluntary euthanasia is legalised the descent down the slippery slope is inevitable. <\/p>\n
Mr Muehlenbergs new book contains Australian statistics and an easy-to-read understanding of the issues. <\/p>\n
When you have legalised euthanasia the relationship between patient and doctor weakens, he said. <\/p>\n
Instead of trust, fear creeps in, when you dont know whether your doctor is there to keep you alive or in fact help to kill you. <\/p>\n
The most vulnerable will be at risk. It certainly sends out a wrong message about what medicine is all about. <\/p>\n
The Brisbane event, hosted by Cherish Life Queensland, also featured Paul Russell, from HOPE: No Euthanasia Australias only full-time single-purpose organisation on euthanasia. <\/p>\n
Referring to Australias media, with its emphasis on sensationalist reporting, Mr Russell said a defence of the right to life always took longer than a few sound bites or a short article. <\/p>\n
However he said it was important for his organisation, and others explaining the case against euthanasia, to increase the literacy in our community on this issue. <\/p>\n
Mr Russell said polling showed support for euthanasia running at about 85 per cent. <\/p>\n
It really shows about 15 per cent of our population understand the ethical problems of euthanasia, he said. <\/p>\n
The biggest problem I have is that euthanasia is killing. <\/p>\n
Assisted suicide is helping someone to commit suicide. <\/p>\n
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Originally posted here: <\/p>\n
Legalised euthanasia is a 'slippery slope' for the vulnerable, Bill Muehlenberg says - Catholic Leader<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Respect for life: CultureWatchs Bill Muehlenberg, Cherish Life Queensland president Julie Borger and HOPE: No Euthanasias Paul Russell at the forum at the Queensland Parliamentary Annex in Brisbane. Continue reading