Quadriplegics in Spain issue unified statement against euthanasia

Madrid, Spain, Nov 7, 2004 / 22:00 pm

During a press conference organized by the Bishops Conference of Spain in which the bishops announced the launching of a national campaign to “mobilize the consciences” of Catholics against euthanasia, the president of the National Federation of Associations of Spinal Cord Injury Victims and the Severely Handicapped, Alberto de Pinto, said if there is anything that unites the country’s 12 million spinal cord injury sufferers it is their love for life and their rejection of euthanasia as a solution to their anguish.

According to De Pinto, “many” quadriplegics contacted him after the release of the pro-euthanasia film, “Mar Adentro” (“The Sea Inside”), the story of quadriplegic Ramon Sampedro, in order to express their “indignation” that the spotlight has been shined again on the case of somebody “who wanted to commit suicide,” giving the impression that such individuals have nothing left to do “but to die.”

“This is false,” said De Pinto, underscoring at the same time that the government should provide funding to improve the quality of life for quadriplegics.

He also called it “shameful” to “use a spinal cord victim” in order to open the debate on euthanasia.  If the money used in Sampedro’s case to promote euthanasia had instead been directed at improving his situation, “most assuredly he would not have wanted to die.”