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PM against suicide law change Brown against assisted dying law
(40 minutes later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has re-iterated his opposition to any change in the law on assisted dying. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has told the BBC he is "totally against" changing laws on euthanasia.
In a interview with Cardinal Murphy O'Connor for BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Brown was unequivocal in his opposition to assisted suicide. Speaking to the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, he said it was not for him to create laws to "put pressure on people to end their lives".
He told the head of the Catholic church in England and Wales he would not bring forward legislation that put pressure on people to end their lives.
His comments follow recent cases where the law has been brought into question.
Human life
During the interview, Mr Brown warned if it were allowed in the UK, then some elderly people might find themselves under pressure to agree to it because they did not want to become a burden on their families.
He also told the cardinal, a guest editor on the Today programme, that the importance of human life had to be recognised and maintained.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
It is illegal in the UK to aid and abet a suicide and anyone convicted faces up to 14 years in prison.It is illegal in the UK to aid and abet a suicide and anyone convicted faces up to 14 years in prison.
However, in Switzerland, home of suicide charity Dignitas, it is legal, provided it has not been carried out for a profit. During the interview on Radio 4's Today programme he also said "strong values" were crucial to successful economies.
More than 100 Britons are thought to have travelled to Switzerland to die at the clinic. More than 100 Britons are thought to have gone to die at the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland, where assisted suicide is legal, provided it has not been carried out for a profit.
Importance of life
At Prime Minister's Questions earlier this month Mr Brown said this issue was a "matter of conscience" but he said he had "always opposed legislation for assisted deaths".
In a interview with Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, a guest editor on Today, Mr Brown was asked about calls for euthanasia laws.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
He replied: "Well I'm totally against laws on that. I think this debate about assisted suicide, it's not really for us to create any legislation that would put pressure on people to feel that they had to offer themselves because they were causing trouble to a relative or anything else.
"So I think we have got to make it absolutely clear that the importance of human life is recognised."
Strong values
During the interview, he was also asked about the need for a moral ethic to underpin capitalism and said the message had been driven home by the economic crisis last year.
"It is quite an important point that successful economies and societies are built on recognising that there are strong values that are absolutely crucial to their success - the value of hard work, taking responsibility, being enterprising but not taking irresponsible risks at the expense of other people."
In a debate in Westminster last month, Lib Dem MP Evan Harris argued the law should be changed to make it easier for terminally ill people to die.
Debbie Purdy was concerned her husband would be prosecuted
He said more than 900 British people a year were forced to get illegal help to die and the consequences for them and their families could be severe.
There have so far been no prosecutions of their relatives, but the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has carried out investigations.There have so far been no prosecutions of their relatives, but the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has carried out investigations.
Earlier this month, no charges were brought against the parents of Daniel James who died at Dignitas.Earlier this month, no charges were brought against the parents of Daniel James who died at Dignitas.
The 23-year-old, from Worcester, was paralysed in a rugby accident and ended his life in September even though he was not terminally ill.The 23-year-old, from Worcester, was paralysed in a rugby accident and ended his life in September even though he was not terminally ill.
Legal challengeLegal challenge
In October, a woman suffering from multiple sclerosis lost her High Court attempt to clarify UK law on assisted suicide.In October, a woman suffering from multiple sclerosis lost her High Court attempt to clarify UK law on assisted suicide.
Debbie Purdy, 45, from Bradford, has suggested that in the future she may want to travel to Dignitas to die.Debbie Purdy, 45, from Bradford, has suggested that in the future she may want to travel to Dignitas to die.
She wants her husband by her side and sought clarification on whether he will be prosecuted on his return home.She wants her husband by her side and sought clarification on whether he will be prosecuted on his return home.
But two senior judges said the current guidelines were adequate and did not require clarification.But two senior judges said the current guidelines were adequate and did not require clarification.
It is not the first time the issue has been raised in the courts.It is not the first time the issue has been raised in the courts.
In 2001 Diane Pretty, who had motor neurone disease, failed to get immunity from prosecution for her husband if he helped her to die in the UK.In 2001 Diane Pretty, who had motor neurone disease, failed to get immunity from prosecution for her husband if he helped her to die in the UK.