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Debate: should voluntary euthanasia be legalised?

3 October 2008

Many people from the UK who are faced with terminal illness have taken the decision to go to Switzerland where assisted suicide is legal.

Should voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide be legal?

  • If you were faced with a degenerative illness would you like the choice?
  • Or should life be protected at all costs?
  • Is it right that a person's loved one should be prosecuted for helping them end their life?
  • What is your view on this? What would you do in such a situation?

 

Have your say, and debate the issue here on PCS comment, and a selection of the comments will be published in View, the monthly magazine for PCS members.

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    17 November 2008

    Those of you following this debate might be interested in this article about assisted suicide on the BBC website.

    Micky L
    Voluntary Euthanasia

    23 October 2008

    Dear Anita O'Brien; I'm sorry, but "that" word has raised it's head again. You say that "God gave them life and it should be god who takes it away." Says who? You? The church, established or otherwise? Or just religion in general? And what if it is god's will? How do you know that god doesn't want them to end their suffering and join him? Maybe that was his/her/it's plan all along. Because a loving god would surely not want his/her/its creations to suffer, would he/she/it? A loving god wouldn't make his/her/its creations suffer at all and, if he/she/it didn't cause the suffering and couldn't do anything to stop it, why would god want it to continue? That's perverse, isn't it?

    Dan Tanzey
    Should voluntary euthanasia and suicide be legal?

    23 October 2008

    Quite simply, I should be able to make that decision about myself for myself without interferance from unrelated or unconnected people basing their views on their own personal and differing viewpoint or religious dogma.

    Mike Gott
    Euthanasia

    23 October 2008

    I would be concerned that some relatives would encourage or state that the person would want euthanasia, just to gain any money or assets. I know most relatives would be caring but you always get the other kind who just think of themselves. Also if some people are fed up of caring for their relatives they may also go down the road of either encouraging or stating euthanasia was the wish of the person concerned. Even if someone states they would want to terminate their lives while young and healthy if they get a terminal illness etc. They may change their mind but not be able to express their wish. God gave them life and it should be God who takes it away.

    Anita O`Brien
    Hmmm... having taken everything on board

    21 October 2008

    Whilst I am sorry to hear of early deaths that these days could be prevented, it doesn't change the central fact that it is my body, my choice. I wouldn't dream of suggesting that euthanasia should be encouraged (monstrous in my opinion and the reason that there would have to be rigid safeguards in place) or made compulsory (a bit Logan's Run and equally disgusting) and I wouldn't dream of suggesting that somebody with disabilities can't live a full, rich and rewarding life. My point is that should I decide to shuffle off this mortal coil, that I should be allowed to, my husband shouldn't have to go to prison for helping and I should be allowed the dignity to make that decision myself.

    Dee Luxford
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