Press Release

29^th April 2002

For Immediate Release

Judgement is for life!!!

“Very Much Alive” is a new group of people with disabilities who oppose any steps that could lead to legalisation of euthanasia.  Most members are severely disabled and depend on enablers to allow us to enjoy our daily lives.

We are relieved that today’s judgement by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) makes clear that euthanasia is not an appropriate “treatment” for even the most severely disabled person.

Their interpretation of Article 2 of the Human Rights Convention – that giving everyone a right to life does not imply a right to die – is to be welcomed.

We feel that the effort expended (to say nothing of the expense) in bringing this case through three courts (the High Court, the House of Lords and now the ECHR) would have been better spent supporting Mrs Pretty.  We feel that every severely disabled person deserves appropriate support, not death.

We hope that this is the end of a sorry chapter in legal history but we will remain vigilant to ensure that euthanasia is never acceptable in a civilised society.