A British Labour MP, Jim Dobbin, is leading a group of British
parliamentarians in calling for a full inquiry into the BBC’s bias in
favour of assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Mr Dobbin, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group, is
the primary sponsor of an Early Day Motion tabled in the House of
Commons on July 4 noting the, “strong campaign waged by the BBC network …
to allow euthanasia, with five programmes broadcast in favour of a
change in the law in the last three years with none arguing against the
practice.”
The MPs are especially concerned that while the BBC is willing to
give airtime to euthanasia campaigners such as the author Terry
Pratchett to argue for a change in the law, it omitted to report the
passing of a resolution by the British Medical Association denouncing
the bias in the constitution of the Demos Commission on Assisted Dying,
chaired by Lord Falconer.
Mr Dobbin has written to Lord Patten, the chairman of the BBC Trust,
and to Mark Thompson, the BBC Director General, urging them to, “not
delay in establishing an inquiry at the highest level” given that the
corporation’s Royal Charter requires it to take an impartial stand on
all issues of public policy.
The letters state, “We know that you are both men of the highest
honour – but whatever your intentions, we know from experience that the
BBC is riddled with men and women determined to promote abortion and
euthanasia,”
Mr Dobbin continued, “We are determined, however, to do everything we
can to ensure that an inquiry at the highest level is established.”
In a separate letter sent to Lord Patten on July 5 Lord Alton of
Liverpool reminded the BBC Trust chairman that the BMA conference was
told by its deputy chairman, "assisting patients to die prematurely is
not part of the moral ethos or the primary goal of medicine. If the
legislation were to be changed, it would have serious negative
consequences on the relationship between doctors and their patients.”
Lord Alton wrote, "Given the wall-to-wall coverage given to Mr
Pratchett et al, we were therefore surprised to see no reference to the
BMA's motion or votes on any BBC news coverage.” “
If the Corporation's rationale for broadcasting the documentary
equivalent of 'snuff' movies is 'public interest' might the public not
also have been interested to learn the views expressed by their
doctors?”
Lord Alton concluded by saying, "In light of the failure of the BBC
to present this side of the argument and the uncritical airtime it has
given to the Falconer Commission, the signatories below feel that an
inquiry at the highest possible levels ought to be announced to conclude
definitively whether the BBC has honoured its duty to be impartial in
its presentation of this contentious and difficult issue."