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
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 has now twice intervened in the subsequent case of Noel Conway, at the High Court and Court of Appeal. The High Court dismissed his application for a declaration of incompatibility between the Suicide Act and the ECHR on 5 October 2017, and the Court of Appeal upheld this ruling on 27 June 2018. His legal team immediately said that they would seek to appeal again, to the Supreme Court. A further case, that of Omid, was put on hold pending the outcome of Conway. CNK has also in 2018 intervened at the Supreme Court in the case of 'Y', concerning the withdrawal of nutrition and hydration.
Holyrood bill: in 2015's debate on assisted suicide in Holyrood, a number of MSPs suggested that they would be open to the principle even though they could not support Margo MacDonald's bill. Campaigners have made clear their commitment to put a new, stronger bill before the Parliament elected in 2016.
Foreign laws: Hawaii recently followed California, Oregon, Washington, Vermont and Colorado in legalising assisted suicide, while shocking new statistics and stories continue to pour forth in the Low Countries. The reality of such places' experiences must continue to be presented.
Care Not Killing consistently punches above its weight, achieving far more than its resources warrant. Our principal costs are the salary of one full-time, paid employee; 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 ten 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. We consistently punch 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.
