Pro-euthanasia effort in European Parliament fails

The pro-life movement saw a victory this past month as the pro-euthanasia lobby in the EU Parliament failed to gain majority support for a declaration on the so-called “dignity at the end of life”, which included support for euthanasia to include reasons of mental or psychological suffering.

According to the One of Us movement, in October 2015, 14 MEPs proposed a written declaration which called for euthanasia available on demand to people who are suffering from a variety of conditions, including those who are experiencing mental or psychological suffering.  These MEP’s based this suggestion on the need for “protection and improvement of public health.”

Written declarations are not binding in the European Parliament but are used by MEPs to express their concerns on a political issue falling within the EU’s competences. A written declaration needs to be backed by a majority of MEPs in order to be published in the plenary meeting minutes. On January 5th, the lapsed time to collect signatures by MEPs passed without euthanasia activists being able to secure enough support and therefore the declaration will not be retained. While this is just one battle in the fight against euthanasia in Europe, it is an encouraging sign that many remain unconvinced that euthanasia can bring any good to society and that hope remains in the effort to protect human life from conception until natural death.