A priest has criticised a top Airedale doctor's call for an extension of euthanasia, claiming it strikes at the heart of medicine.

The Rev Dr John Berry, of West Lane, Keighley, claims the views of consultant neurologist Dr Jim Howe, who in a book out on Thursday says he would be prepared to give a lethal injection to some patients if it was made legal, were a cause for concern.

Dr Howe, who treated Hillsborough victim Tony Bland, of Keighley, says for patients close to death, with no quality of life, it would be the caring course to take.

But in an article in next month's Leeds diocesan newsletter for the Catholic Church, Dr Berry brands the views 'repugnant', claiming they strike at the heart of medicine.

Dr Berry, a research fellow at the London-based Linacre Centre, which looks at healthcare ethics from a Catholic standpoint, said today he was surprised by Dr Howe's views which he said were bound to be influential.

He said the original ruling in the case of Tony Bland had set a dangerous precedent and he feared Dr Howe wanted it further extended.

"He is a nationally fairly high-profile medical professional and his views are likely to be widely discussed and get a lot of attention. More and more doctors are expressing similar views."

In his article, Dr Berry said some of Dr Howe's views were chilling and could pave the way for non-voluntary euthanasia.

"The fact that such views are now increasingly espoused by doctors responsible for the medical care of vulnerable and elderly people must be a cause for concern to all of us who use the health service.

"Killing is never caring and euthanasia is simply bad medicine.

"At a time when palliative care has become such a valuable speciality in medicine, thanks to the pioneering hospice movement, such a destructive and despairing approach to human suffering seems to return medicine to its darkest past."

Dr Howe, who works at Airedale General Hospital, calls in the book for people with little or no quality of life to be allowed to die providing proper legal safeguards are in place and supports a change in the law to extend the use of voluntary euthanasia.

He argues killing a patient in some circumstances would be a caring act.

Dr Howe uses the example of a person afflicted by motor neurone disease who was not in pain but did not want the indignity of total helplessness and decided freely and independently they no longer wanted their life to go on.

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