One of the most controversial issues these days is that of assisted suicide. It seems to me that if somebody I loved dearly was in great pain and going to die anyway, it wouldn't be immoral to assist them. In the UK in 1961, it no longer became criminal to commit suicide, however it's still illegal to help somebody to kill themselves.
According to Derek Humphry, former editor of World Right-to-Die Newsletter; “The only four places that today openly and legally, authorize active assistance in dying of patients, are:
- Oregon: since l997, physician-assisted suicide only.
- Switzerland: 1941, physician and non-physician assisted suicide only.
- Belgium: 2002, permits "euthanasia" but does not define the method.
- Netherlands: Voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide lawful since April 2002 but permitted by the courts since l984.
Personally I believe that a person has a right to do with their lives as they please, if that means ending them then so be it.
