HL Deb 28 June 1985 vol 465 cc904-5

11.17 a.m.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have noted that in a national opinion poll 72 per cent. agreed that medical help should be legally available to ensure peaceful death and whether they will either facilitate legislation to permit this or set up an inquiry into the question.

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, we have noted the result of the poll and understand the feelings which underlie it. The question of mercy killing was reviewed by the Criminal Law Revision Committee in its report on offences against the person, published in 1980. The Government have no plans for any further review or change in the law.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply, but is he in a position to say that if the Government will not initiate legislation they will, at least, not oppose it? Is he aware that the wider question of voluntary euthanasia and the rather narrow one of mercy killing are, in fact, two different issues?

Lord Glenarthur

No, my Lords, I am not in a position to give that assurance to the noble Lord. The whole subject is a particularly difficult and emotional one and I cannot give the assurance which the noble Lord seeks.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, will the noble Lord answer the second part of my question—that he understands that the narrow issue of mercy killing, on which the Government have replied, is a different issue from the wider question of voluntary euthanasia?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, when we get into this area we are also talking about the treatment of patients and the fact that so much of that is a matter for the clinical judgment of doctors. There may be essential differences in the way that the noble Lord describes it, but the Government have no plans for change.

The Earl of Selkirk

My Lords, will my noble friend endorse the view expressed by a very senior doctor in this House, that it is not the duty of a doctor to prolong the process of dying?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I think that it is possible to agree in general terms, but there is rather more that could be said on this issue and I do not think that this moment is appropriate.