London, England, Mar 24, 2009 / 01:31 am
Archbishop of Cardiff Peter Smith has written a letter to The Times voicing his concern that changes to a bill intended to regulate websites that encourage suicide will “hijack” the proposal by protecting those who assist in suicides in other countries.
Archbishop Smith’s March 20 letter to The Times explained that the Coroners and Justice Bill aims to bring within the law “predatory internet websites that promote or encourage suicide.”
According to The Guardian, the proposed change to the bill, made by former health secretary Patricia Hewitt, says that any act “done solely or principally for the purpose of enabling or assisting (an individual) to travel to a country or territory in which assisted dying is lawful" would not be treated as "encouraging or assisting” a suicide. It reportedly is backed by more than 100 Ministers of Parliament.
In his letter, the archbishop said that defenders of suicide argue there is a difference between “malicious encouragement of suicide” and assistance with suicide “in compassionate circumstances.”