The Council of Europe has rejected a draft resolution on "assistance to patients at the end of life", in report submitted by Swiss liberal Dick Marty during the plenary session in Strasbourg of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). In the midst of the increasing liberal stance towards legalising euthanasia in Britain and France, the decision has been hailed by pro-lifers and the Catholic Church.

On 27th April, the 46 members of the Council of Europe unanimously voted against the euthanasia resolution 138-26 after many hours of long debate. The resolution says patients should have a legal right to decide in advance if they want medical treatment to be limited or stopped if they become terminally ill and unable to express their will.

There is no doubt that a huge majority of Christians and Catholics are opposed to euthanasia because it does not respect the absolute providence of God on a human’s life, by allowing people to make the choice to end their lives on their own. However, what has concerned the policy-makers the most appears to be the slippery slope over the potential abuses open to euthanasia.

Recent reports show that the rate of euthanasia cases are escalating in countries where it has already been legalised. So far, the Netherlands and Belgium are the only countries that have legalised euthanasia. Among all 129,000 deaths in the Netherlands in 1990, three percent were requested euthanasia and one percent of all deaths in the Netherlands were euthanasia 'without explicit request'. Even worse, a growing number of "infant euthanasia" has been performed illegally by doctors.

Speaking on the debate on Thursday, Helmut Rauber of the German Christian Democratic Union said it was estimated that up to 100,000 sick Europeans could die annually through assisted suicides if euthanasia was implemented throughout the 25-countries of the European Union.

Kevin McNamara, the legal affairs and human rights committee of the Council of Europe said, "The overwhelming majority of deputies were concerned that euthanasia would become an issue (as divisive) as abortion. Too many vulnerable people would be at risk."

McNamara described the defeat of the pro-euthanasia resolution as "a victory of the forces of life".

The Vatican, which has long been defending the traditional biblical teachings on family and life issues, welcomed the vote by the European legislators.

"This is a positive signal," Bishop Elio Sgreccia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, said in a 28th April Vatican Radio interview. "It means there are still forces in Europe which respect and wish to respect the lives of the gravely ill and dying."

Bishop Sgreccia said all practical efforts should be devoted to developing "a health system that respects the patient" and to providing "the appropriate therapy and care owed to every human being."

In addition, Bishop Sgreccia warned of the those in favour of euthanasia - that they would soon attack again with similar proposals. He also expressed his hope that the issue will come to the council again and stimulate the legislators to rethink and respond to the challenge.

The Council of Europe, founded in 1949, is distinct from the European Union; however, no country has joined the European Union without first belonging to the council.