| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply | |
| Posted by: | Steven Rose | |
| Date/Time: | 29/11/24 19:37:00 |
| I don’t object to Fleur Anderson or any MP voting according to their conscience. Aside from religious objections, I think there are two main areas of concern about the bill. One is the issue of what constitutes a free choice. No one wants to see a terminally ill patient suffer a lingering painful death. But there is a danger that a patient might be induced to seek euthanasia, either directly by family members, or indirectly by a wish not to be a burden. It is not clear that two doctors and a judge, as required by the bill, would necessarily have the time or expertise to distinguish between a free and a forced choice. The other issue is the slippery slope. Canada introduced assisted dying in 2016 for adults with a terminal illness. Then in 2021 it was extended to people with no terminal illness and to the disabled. In 2027 anyone with a serious mental health problem will be eligible. In Belgium the right to euthanasia was extended to children in 2014 with no minimum age requirement. |