British disabled people “will be looking nervously” at Belgium’s decision to introduce child euthanasia, the Chief Executive of disability charity Scope has warned.
Following Belgium’s vote on the issue last week, Richard Hawkes cautioned against “loud, well-organised” calls to allow assisted suicide in Britain.
Hawkes said lots of people, “not least disabled people”, “are really worried at the way we seem to be edging towards a change in the law”.
Guard
He also called for politicians to “guard against community bullying” of society’s “most vulnerable members” when the issue is discussed in parliament later this year.
On Thursday Belgium became the first country to allow euthanasia for terminally ill children of all ages.
The legislation was supported in parliament despite more than 160 Belgian paediatric doctors opposing the change.
The country legalised euthanasia for adults in 2002.
Edging
Writing on Scope’s website Hawkes said: “Many British disabled people will be looking nervously over at Belgium.
“Right now there are loud, well-organised and influential, calls to legalise assisted suicide for terminally ill adults.
“But there are lots of ordinary people, not least disabled people, who are really worried at the way we seem to be edging towards a change in the law.
Exceptional
“We can’t change a law that works on the basis of powerful, but exceptional cases.
“Politicians will debate assisted suicide again later this year. They need to guard against community bullying of our most vulnerable members.”
Last year in Scotland Margo Macdonald MSP introduced a Bill to legalise assisted suicide and in Westminster Lord Falconer is also pushing for a change in the law.
