Deputy Director of the Catholic Union, James Somerville-Meikle, writes:
The pressures on our healthcare system are all too clear, with nurses taking to picket lines instead of hospital wards again this week. Whatever your view on the strikes, it’s clear that morale amongst staff in the NHS and social care is at an all time low. The situation could get even worse if assisted suicide were to be introduced in this country, according to results from a recent Catholic Union survey. 88% of responders said that introducing assisted suicide would make it harder for Catholics and other people of faith to enter the medical profession – making existing staff shortages even worse. We have used the survey results in our evidence to a consultation launched by the Health and Social Care Committee in Parliament, which closed this week. Consultations are also underway in Jersey and the Isle of Man on a possible change in the law, and a Members’ Bill in the Scottish Parliament is expected shortly. Calls for assisted suicide are once again growing louder, but the damaging impact of such a change in the law is also becoming clearer. The Catholic Union will continue to lead this crucial debate in the public sphere.
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