24/March/05
The Rt Hon Lord Falconer
(Lord Chancellor,Minister with responsibility for the
Bill)
Selbourne House
54 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6QW
My Lord,
REF: MENTAL CAPACITY BILL
In the UK,there are about two million British muslims,which
include:
ten of thousands of muslim doctors and nurses ,and many
hundred thousands of muslim patients;
They all believe strongly in our all GOD,the One GOD,the
only GOD,the Creator and the Owner of all life.
Only GOD Almighty has got the full right and power to
end the life of any human being,through natural death
and at an
appointed time fixed by GOD alone.
It is blasphemous and against GOD and all the Holy Scriptures,for
any patient or doctor or judge or Lord or MP ..to decide
or take any step which will end the life of any patient
or person,whether directly or indirectly or by OMISSION
or NEGLECT!
This why:ending the life/ Killing of the innocent unborn
children as in abortion,attempted suicide,assisted suicide(direct
or indirect)/Euthanasia and suicide...are all PROHIBITED
in the teachings of Islam and in all religions and Holy
Scriptures.
Every human life is SACRED and should be protected,and
all Laws/Bills in the UK should reflect
this basic Divine concept,for the sake of the patient,
doctor,family and all society..and for the sake of GOD!
British muslims are opposing the final draft of the Mental
Capacity Bill,as it is still remains a vehicle for UTHANASIA/KILLING
BY NEGLECT!
We do see in the present Bill,despite some clauses/amendments:
INTENTIONAL KILLING BY OMISSION!!!:
-The withdrawal of food and fluids from any patient is
INHUMANE, very CRUEL and UNACCEPTABLE! and against all
Ethics of good medical practice
it will usually lead to dehydration and starvation and
to an agonising death..! this is KILLING! or EUTHANASIA
BY NEGLECT!
Food and fluid is a must for every patient and for every
human in sickness and in health!
And they should not be considered treatment at all!!!
-"LIVING WILLS"/Advance decisions are the door
to Euthanasia, which will also cause many legal and Ethical
problems to the doctors looking after the patient!
They should be removed or restricted ,and in all cases:food
and fluids should be given.
All doctors should practice freely in order to protect
and save life,and no one should feel under pressure to
do otherwise.
-"BEST INTERESTS" is still a deceiving term!..it
still imply: Killing and death?
It should include all the times:THE PRESERVATION
OF LIFE.
We believe that the BEST INTERESTS for both :Doctor and
patient is to avoid any intention to end an existing life...(otherwise
both will be in Hell! ..."WORST INTERESTS"!).
-Finally,we are still concerned about the power/DECISIONS
of the attorney
Been non medical generally,he/she can
be motivated by a desire to bring about the patient's
death?
This is very big concern to us as the Bill has not put
some safeguards in order to protect the life of the patient.
We request you,on behalf of the British muslims,to take
notice of our deep concerns and unhappiness about the
present state of the Bill ,in your 3rd reading today..as
it is still a Bill for Euthanasia by omission or neglect.!
If the above mentioned concerns have not been addressed,we
would like this BILL to be
Rejected!
Yours sincerely
Dr A.Majid Katme (MBBCh,DPM)
Spokesman: Islamic Medical Association/UK
Coordinator:Islamic Concern