No official comment from the English Bishops Conference to the data shown by a survey conducted by Brunel University, published on the medical journal, "Palliative medicine", according to which in 2004 approximately 3 thousand people, eight a day, underwent euthanasia, a practice that is illegal in the country. The figures speak clearly: of the 585 thousand deaths of 2004, 2865 people (0.5% of the total) were helped to die by doctors. The survey was based on interviews with 857 specialists and GPs, who remained anonymous. 936 of these assisted deaths had been expressly requested by the patient, 1929 cases seem to be patients who had asked to be helped to die but who had not been able to give exact directions, because for instance they were in a coma. Strong criticism comes instead from the "Society for the protection of unborn children", one of the most important "charities" of the English prolife movement: "you can hear it quite often they stated to Sir that euthanasia is practiced in British hospitals, and this is one of the worst-kept secrets of the medical profession in this country. It’s unbelievable that one of the wealthiest countries in the world should decide to get rid of patients who could be treated and, if not cured, at least be helped to live with dignity". Even last October, nine leaders of the six most important British religious groups condemned the bill of law which aimed to legalise voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide in Great Britain. The Catholic, Anglican, Muslim, Hindu and Jewish religious leaders stated that "legalising assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia would dramatically alter the moral grounds of our society, thus seriously threatening respect for life".
