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A new report from the U.K.’s Commission on Assisted Dying has reignited the debate over assisted suicide in Great Britain.
The 400-page report, written by doctors, lawyers and a former police commissioner, called for legalizing assisted suicide in England and Wales, and outlined a set of safeguards to ensure a new law would not be abused.
”There should be a change for a tightly defined group of people who are terminally ill, of sound mind and not being pressured into a decision,” said commission member Barbara Young.
Assisted suicide would only be allowed for people over the age of 18 who have 12 months or less to live and who are deemed mentally competent. Dementia patients and those with locked-in syndrome – a rare neurological disorder marked by complete paralysis except for eye movement — would not be eligible. Assisted suicide would require the approval of two doctors and observance of a two-week waiting period after the decision was made.
Assisted Suicide Debate Revived in the U.K.
Article Source: ABC News- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (6)
The year-long study drew on evidence from 1,300 sources, but its funding has caused some controversy: Commissioned by the rigth-to-die group Dignity in Dying, the report’s funding came exclusively from well-known supporters of assisted suicide, such as best-selling author Terry Pratchett, who has early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and businesman Bernard Lewis.
Critics of legalizing assisted suicide have cried foul, saying the report as biased and flawed.
“The safeguards proposed by this commission are really inadequate,” said Dr. John Wiles, chairman of Care Not Killing. For example, Wiles said, the waiting period was too short. “I’ve seen people distressed and worried for two weeks who when you brought their symptoms and their disease under control have really appreciated the fact they’re still alive.”
- 1 vote
#1 - Thu Jan 5, 2012 3:17 PM ESTDark, dark subject, but the wife and I have had many a discussion (partly in response to the Seinfeld where Kramer learns about comas) about this topic. Neither of us wants to be alive if we aren't really "living." Death is inevitable, I understand fully why people are so opposed to it, but in the end, if someone wants to die because life is nothing but misery or torment, it is simply the compassionate thing to do.
If my wife was in pain every working hour of every day and wanted nothing more than to be relieved... well damn I'd have a hard time with that... but it would be cruel to make her suffer...
I can't fathom being the one to assist.
One more thing, didn't they just air an assisted suicide on TV not too long ago from somewhere over there? I remember reading an article form a guy who watched it... dark, dark stuff...
- 3 votes
#2 - Thu Jan 5, 2012 5:08 PM ESTYea I agree. If a person's in so much pain that they don't want to live, I feel they should have the option of ending their life in a safe and dignified manner. It almost seems like denying them this would be to take the right to life out of their hands. At the same time, I, like you, can't imagine being the one to assist. I don't think that it should be mandatory that all physicians write lethal prescriptions if asked, though they should be required to refer their patients to someone that will.
One more thing, didn't they just air an assisted suicide on TV not too long ago from somewhere over there? I remember reading an article form a guy who watched it... dark, dark stuff...
Wow that's grim. I hadn't heard about that and definitely don't want to see the video
- 1 vote
From the sounds of the article, it wasn't horrible or gruesome to watch exactly, just the fact that it was happening. A needle, a good bye, and basically the guy fell asleep, only of course, never to wake... with his wife by his side. Definitely grim.
- 2 votes
If our pets are terminal & suffering, they are euthanised.
Surely we deserve the same dignity?
- 5 votes
#3 - Thu Jan 5, 2012 8:33 PM ESTWouldn't you know it, the article I mentioned was from msnbc. I didn't remember the details. Apparently it was in Switzerland, and with pills, not a needle. If you care to...
- 1 vote
#4 - Fri Jan 6, 2012 12:05 AM ESTYou're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |
