Religious leaders cause major harm

‘Battle against faith abuse’ (10th Nov) is a concern. However, in all my campaigning for a compassionate safeguarded assisted dying law, it is the religious leaders and Christian ideology of the hospice movement that have shown the most opposition to this concept.

Within such an envisaged law, respect would be shown those who would not wish to take part; but because there are those terminally ill who, in spite of even excellent palliative care will suffer unbearably in the last 6 months, there is evidence that mentally competent, terminally ill adults have wanted and needed this end-of-life choice.

Unsurprisingly, polls have shown 80% of religious people want this choice. Who wouldn’t? – other than those who are forced by their faith to believe in the sanctity of suffering, which is doing huge harm within our society.

Pauline Carroll Retired District Nurse and Bath Dignity in Dying Campaign Lead Bath