Call to improve assisted suicide reporting

CARE has called for media outlets covering the issue of assisted suicide to signpost to support services for vulnerable readers.

Speaking after a fresh round of media coverage this week Michael Veitch, a spokesman for the charity, said:

“There's been fresh coverage of assisted suicide at the start of this week, including a story about a UK woman who wants to travel abroad to take her own life.

“We would encourage all mainstream outlets covering this issue to signpost to support services for people at risk of suicide who could be deeply affected by this coverage. Many outlets do signpost to organisations that help vulnerable people as a matter of course, and we’d like to see this across all UK outlets."

Mr Veitch also expressed concern about the language used in coverage of the issue. He added:

“We also wish to put on record our opposition to the term ‘assisted dying’, a campaigning term that has no standing in law. Campaigners want to see lethal medication given to people so they can end their lives - something radically different from existing end-of-life care. ‘Assisted suicide’ is a more accurate and honest term for what is involved in activists’ proposals.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors

CARE is a social policy charity, bringing Christian insight to the policies and laws that affect our lives. Contact us: press@care.org.uk