OPPONENTS of a proposal to allow doctors to give people who want to end their lives the drugs they need to do so, are joining forces in Clevedon. In January, the Care Not Killing Alliance was formed to promote palliative care and oppose efforts to legalis

OPPONENTS of a proposal to allow doctors to give people who want to end their lives the drugs they need to do so, are joining forces in Clevedon.In January, the Care Not Killing Alliance was formed to promote palliative care and oppose efforts to legalise euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide at a national level.On May 16, independent peer Lord Joffe's Bill, which would allow doctors to provide patients who want to commit suicide with the medication to bring about their death, is due to be debated in the House of Lords.In a bid to encourage people who are against the proposal to write to their MP, a Care Not Killing group has been formed in Clevedon.Local Franciscan friar, Father Roger, of Clevedon Parish, who is among the group's members, said: "If this Bill becomes law, every old person will worry if they become ill, and then depressed or confused, whether they can truly trust a doctor with their life. The law should be left well alone."Portishead GP Dr Catherine Crilley, who also belongs to the group, said: "I am not at all comfortable with the proposed Bill and a lot of doctors feel as I do."For more than 2,000 years, doctors have sworn the Hypocratic Oath which states that they will not 'give poison to anyone, even if asked to do so, nor suggest such a plan'.