So far, the End of Life Choice Act seems to have been successfully and compassionately administered (“Death wish list”, November 12).
Prior to the referendum which preceded the act, numerous organisations spent large sums of money advertising their opposition to it. The bulk of this emanated from religious zealots, churches, and bishops of a variety of denominations, all trying to dissuade the public from voting in favour, while painting the bleakest of pictures as to the disastrous fate awaiting them if they did.
One specious argument (among many) was that suicide rates would increase. According to the Deputy Chief Coroner, the suicide rate per 100,000 in the last financial year was significantly lower than the average rate over the past 13 years.
Meanwhile, the church leaders who so vigorously opposed the act, and who tried unsuccessfully to intrude into politics, continue to receive tax concessions according to their status as “charities”.
The sooner a political party grasps the nettle of this tax concession rort the better off the public will be.
