the right to die

[wannaBe1974]

\link{http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4763067.stm\any thoughts?}

[dinosaure]

Not in favour. Let's campaign for much, much better care instead, so that people can enjoy some quality of life.

[plummymummy]

I would support it too. When a sane person who has a poor quality of life and who is in pain makes a decision to end their life, I think ultimately that is a choice they have the right to make. Better that it is done medically and openly, than in secret by overdose etc. as family can get to say goodbye properly.

[FairyMum]

I can see ethical dilemmas, but have seen enough in my life to know that in certain circumstances I would want to be "put down"

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

We need more pallitive care in this country; of that fact I have no doubt at all.

A lot of chronically ill people suffer depression or have depressive symptoms. They are also frightened and need quality information. I feel that if depressive symptoms were addressed and treated at the very earlier stages of onset perhaps some of these people would not go onto feel a sense of them being a "burden" to themselves and their families.

[Greensleeves]

I'm not in favour, personally. I agree that we need much better quality palliative care. I think a system in which voluntary euthanasia was legal would be open to horrendous abuses. I've known too many people certain they wanted to die who have thought better of it when their suffering was eased. And as for "dying with dignity" - I don't think death is really about dignity. And I can't see anything dignified about suicide.