As a campaigning organisation, CNK is not a charity, but relies entirely upon our member organisations and the generosity of concerned individuals like you.
As a campaigning organisation, CNK is not a charity, but relies entirely upon our member organisations and the generosity of concerned individuals like you.
Our Track Record includes organising public events, media campaigns, letter-writing campaigns, petitions, parliamentary briefings, polls and educational symposia. Successful outcomes include
Holyrood bill: four years on from the overwhelming defeat of Margo MacDonald's bill (the Harvie Bill), favourable MSPs are organising, in conjunction with campaign groups, and have recently begun breaking cover in support of a new bill. Advocates have launched a new high profile campaign, seeking to persuade MSPs by highlighting hard cases.
Medical organisations: in January 2019, the Council of the Royal College of Physicians announced controversial new rules for how it would survey the views of fellows and members on assisted suicide, and despite a clear plurality remaining personally opposed to assisted suicide, and in favour of formal college opposition, the RCP went neutral. Advocates have been clear that neutralising medical opinion is vital to their cause, and similar challenges in other bodies are expected in coming months.
Courts: proponents' immediate response to the informed and considered rejection of the Marris Bill was to threaten new legal challenges, and they openly advertised for terminally ill individuals to 'get involved'. CNK intervened in the subsequent case of Noel Conway, at the High Court and Court of Appeal, both of which dismissed his application for a declaration of incompatibility between the Suicide Act and the ECHR before the Supreme Court declined to hear a further appeal in November 2018. In a less welcome development, the Supreme Court ruled in 'Y' that clinically assisted nutrition and hydration could be withdrawn from patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness where doctors and families agreed, without recourse to the Court of Protection; the ruling influenced new, troubling guidance from the BMA.
Foreign laws: New Jersey recently followed California, Oregon, Washington, Vermont, Colorado and Hawaii in legalising assisted suicide, while shocking new statistics and stories continue to pour forth from the Low Countries. The reality of such places' experiences must continue to be presented.
Care Not Killing consistently achieves far more than its resources warrant: our principal costs are the salaries of two full-time, paid employees; rental costs for our London office; and media support. Other costs include internet support, design work, accountancy fees, travel expenses, printing and mailing costs. These stand apart from the many services provided, on account of long-standing relationships developed in the years since CNK was established, without or at greatly reduced charge. These include pro bono legal services, media spokespeople, AV technical support, material costs relating to public events (rallies) and incidental administrative assistance.
The appointment of our first full-time CEO, following the departure in December 2018 of our pro bono, part-time Campaign Director, presents an opportunity to develop our work - but this requires substantially increased funding. We punch well above our weight, but we need your support.You can use the form below to donate to the work of Care Not Killing; please consider giving on a regular basis, although individual donations of any size are great appreciated. Thank You.
Click below to find out how to leave a legacy to Care Not Killing
