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
- 2005-06 Lord Joffe's Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill defeated 148-100
- 2009 Lord Falconer's Coroners and Justice Bill amendment defeated by 194-141
- 2010 Margo MacDonald's End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill defeated 85-16
- 2010-12 Falconer Commission on Assisted Dying - biased report exposed and neutralised
- 2006-14 Successful resistance to changes to the BMA, RCP and RCGP stances opposing assisted suicide
- 2012 CNK hosted the first European Symposium on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, bringing together campaigners from around the world
- 2012-14 CNK intervened successfully in court cases of Tony Nicklinson, Paul Lamb and 'Martin' at the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court
- 2012 CNK commissioned polling of the 2010 Commons, suggesting 2-1 opposition among MPs
- 2013 CNK funded launch of Euthanasia Prevention Coalition Europe
- 2013-15 Lord Falconer's revived Assisted Dying Bill ran out of time following letter-writing campaigns and rallies outside Parliament which further cemented links with healthcare professionals, disability activists and faith groups. CNK commissioned or supported commissioning of polls which found that public support falls away when confronted with the realities of assisted suicide
- 2014-15 Pro-assisted suicide measures defeated in the Manx House of Keys and Welsh Assembly
- 2014-15 Patrick Harvie's Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill confronted with rallies, a petition signed by more than 15,000 and oral evidence in committee. Defeated 82-36
- 2015 Rob Marris MP's Assisted Dying (No. 2) Bill, the first assisted suicide bill to be debated in the Commons in 18 years, met by a letter-writing and social media campaign, MP briefings and a joint CNK-NDY rally. Defeated 330-118
- 2017-18 CNK intervened successfully in Noel Conway's attempt at the High Court and Court of Appeal to have the Suicide Act declared incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights
- 2019-20 CNK campaigned to persuade doctors to uphold opposition to assisted suicide and euthanasia when the Royal Colleges of Physicians and General Practitioners, and the British Medical Association, consulted their members. Opposition remained the most favoured stance for RCP and RCGP members, the latter reaffirming its opposition in February 2020
2021 CNK campaigned ahead of the Scottish Parliamentary elections to highlight the danger of a change in the law on assisted suicide, and later in the year co-hosted a webinar for MSPs with Not Dead Yet UK featuring three experts speaking on the Dutch and Canadian experiences, and disability rights.
2022-23 CNK encouraged encouraged engagement with public consultations run by the Jersey Government, Manx Tynwald and Commons Health Committee, with guides and briefings published for each. The Manx consultation saw (2023) the greater number of respondents reject assisted suicide.
Holyrood: A consultation on Liam McArthur MSP's proposal to
legalise assisted suicide for terminally ill adults (without a specified life expectancy) received tens of thousands of responses before closing in December 2021. A bill is awaited in 2023.
Jersey & the Isle of Man: Bills are awaited in Jersey (euthanasia and assisted suicide) and the Isle of Man (assisted suicide) following public consultations, "piling on the pressure for MPs in Westminster."
Westminster: Dignity in Dying chair Baroness Meacher launched a new 'Assisted Dying Bill' in 2021, Lord Forsyth sought an amendment to the Government's Health & Care Bill in the Lords (which would have forced it to bring forward a bill) and now the Commons Health Committee is undertaking an inquiry on "Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide." The pressure has not let up in Westminster and requires constant vigilance.
Medical organisations: Advocates of legal change have been clear that neutralising medical opinion is vital to their cause; following the British Medical Association's move to neutrality in September 2021, it is all the more important to amplify the voices of doctors and nurses opposed to a change in the law - most importantly through the work of our colleagues at Our Duty of Care.
Courts: Care Not Killing stands ready to intervene again in landmark court cases such as Nicklinson, Conway and Y.
Foreign laws: The list of jurisdictions which have legalised assisted suicide and/or euthanasia has seen new additions in the US and Australia, while shocking new statistics and stories continue to pour forth from Canada and 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 the ad hoc support of designers and researchers, 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 spokespersons, AV technical support, material costs relating to public events (rallies) and incidental administrative assistance.
We punch well above our weight, but we need your support.
Four Options for Giving
We deeply appreciate all donations (including commitments to regular giving, which are especially helpful in securing our work.) We all have our own preferences for how we give:
- Online via PayPal: you can use the form below to make individual and recurring gifts.
- Online via Stripe: if you’d prefer an alternative to PayPal, just follow this link to donate.
- Cheque: you can send a cheque (payable to CNK Alliance Ltd) to Care Not Killing, 8 Marshalsea Road, London, SE1 1HL.
- Bank transfer/Standing Order: if you would prefer to make a direct payment, get in touch for details.
(Only use the form below if you wish to donate via PayPal.)
