Euthanasia, A bortion Proposals Deplored

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29878, 19 July 1962, Page 13

Euthanasia, A bortion Proposals Deplored

LONDON, July 18. Proposals by two members of Parliament that mercy-killing or abortion be authorised for deformed baby victims of the drug thalidomide were called “shocking” and “belated” by British newspapers today. A Conservative member. Commander J. S Kerans, said yesterday he would ask the House of Commons to introduce legislation "whereby in future cases of extreme deformity medical practitioners may be authorised to apply euthanasia.” A Labour peeress, Baroness Summerskill, will ask the House of Lords whether a doctor is to be allowed to perform an abortion on a woman “when it has been definitely established that thalidomide has been administered to her.” The "Guardian” said in an editorial that "since the last pregnant women to have taken thalidomide before the supply was stopped are several months past the time when an abortion would have been practicable, it is hard to see why the question should be asked. “The debate about euthanasia—which societies like ours have always stood out against—is fed by a continuous stream of deformed births and mortal illnesses. The thalidomide episode, dreadful as it is, does not in itself affect the argument at all. “The real way to tackle the possible danger to unborn children from new drugs is by prevention before the drugs are put on the market, not by belated remedies,” the “Guardian” said. The “Daily Sketch” said of the Members of Parlia-

(N.Z.P. A. -Reuter—Copyright)

ment: “Who do they think they are? Most of the suggestions offered have been constructive and all have been bent towards giving the children as happy and as near normal life as possible. “Now comes a suggestion from two eminent politicians, one of them a doctorkill them off.

“What a shocking and unChristian way out of our responsibilities.” The “Daily Express" science writer, Chapman Pincher said doctors and church leaders interviewed last night condemned mercy killings. One doctor said: “The suggestion that a doctor should deliberately take the life of a patient even though the patient may be a deformed infant ... is contrary to the basic principles of medical practice. A law permitting this could be disastrous.”