euthanasia

this article on the icwales web site prompted me to have a good think about euthanasia.




i think it's about time that it was legal, as long as there are safeguards to prevent people offing elderly or infirm relatives who are stoppong them getting their inheritance or just being in the way:

• at least two doctors should agree that the person is not likely to recover and has indicated that they do not wish to continue to live;


• if the person cannot give an informed decision, at least three doctors should agree that the person's condition is untenable;


• a magistrate's court hearing should hear the evidence, in a timely way, and make a decision about whether the euthanasia should be allowed;


• the drugs which are used should cause no pain;


• the drugs should be administered by a doctor before independent, professional witnesses who check that all the foregoing have occurred properly;


• if all the foregoing have occurred properly, no-one should ever be prosecuted.