Wednesday, March 25, 2009

HSE is criticised over pro-euthanasia lecture

Cork University HospitalCork University Hospital (CUH) has agreed to discuss concerns raised over a lecture by a prominent pro-euthanasia academic, a spokesperson for the HSE has confirmed to The Irish Catholic.

The meeting of the Management Board to discuss concerns was due to take place as The Irish Catholic went to press this week.

It comes amid controversy over the lecture, scheduled for April 9, by Prof. Len Doyal, an open proponent of voluntary and non-voluntary euthanasia.

The spokeswoman said the HSE does not support euthanasia, nor was CUH promoting it, but rather its intention was to stimulate discussion on ethically difficult issues.

''It's not a debate, it's an interactive lecture. Prof. Doyal will speak for 40 minutes and the audience will have 50 minutes to ask questions,'' she said.

However, Independent MEP, Kathy Sinnott, described the CUH's choice of lecturer as ''very worrying''.

''In a time of recession and great pressure on our own health system, this invitation should be of special concern to those who are ill, disabled, or older, as well as their family and friends,'' Ms Sinnott said in a statement which called on members of the public to write to the hospital and the executive.

A member of the HSE's own forum, Kerry County Councillor, Brendan Cronin, has also called for the lecture to be cancelled saying he was ''outraged by the decision''.

Luxembourg has become the latest European State to legalise euthanasia, joining the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. The Scottish Parliament is preparing to debate the issue in the coming months.

Meanwhile, draft guidelines issued by the General Medical Council in Britain last week, will mean that doctors who ignore living wills from terminally-ill patients ordering treatment to be stopped, could be struck off the medical register.
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(Source: IC)