Spanish evangelicals express oposition to Euthanasia Law, ask for better palliative care

The Spanish Evangelical Alliance (AEE) has announced that it is working on amendments to the Euthanasia Law, that was presented by the Social Democrat party PSOE in the Parliament, and is being discussed these weeks.

Doctors, health professionals and experts in bioethics in the Christian context are working on a set of proposals that could be “a real help for people in situations of severe chronic disability or suffering, and will be announced when they are finished”, the AEE explains in a statement.

“PALLIATIVE CARE, PAIN MANAGEMENT UNITS”

“As evangelical Christians we are undoubtedly in favor of the dignity of the human being from conception to death”, so that, “the development of palliative care and Pain Management Units, and the support for people in dependence are vital”.

All those things “are the reality and the majority demand that we see in both our society and in the medical practices of health professionals”.

“THE LAW IS AN ASSISTED LEGAL SUICIDE”

The AEE considers that the draft law that the Parliament is discussing, has to do with the legalisation of “assisted legal suicide” in cases in which real answers have not been given to “common situations of severe suffering”.

Admitting that there may be “exceptional cases that require an exceptional way”, the statement points out that “these should not be addressed by a general law”.

The AEE believes that the development of the euthanasia draft law in the Parliament would be counterproductive, given that “many people who currently suffer severe pain would be forced to opt for assisted suicide, as the only valid alternative”.

According to the AEE, “this is not a compassionate or dignified way to treat these people”.

“Before debating or approving the Euthanasia Law, if we speak of compassion, it is necessary and essential to develop the aforementioned aspects, with special emphasis on the development of palliative care, whose processing is pending approval since last year”.

THE DRAFT LAW IN THE PARLIAMENT

Last week, the Spanish Parliament knocked down the amendment to the totality presented by the Conservative party PP.

The euthanasia draft law of the PSOE, which decriminalises the practice and includes a portfolio of common services of the National Health System, is still in the phase of partial amendments.

The aim of the Social Democrat party, according to its spokesperson, Adriana Lastra, is to approve the document before the end of 2018. The majority of the parties have confirmed that they will vote in favor of the law.