Assisted Suicide Debate Revived in the U.K.
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AbleStock/Hemera(LONDON) — A new report from the U.K.’s Commission on Assisted Dying has reignited the debate over assisted suicide in Great Britain.
The 400-page report, written by doctors, lawyers and a former police commissioner, called for legalizing assisted suicide in England and Wales, and outlined a set of safeguards to ensure a new law would not be abused.
“There should be a change for a tightly defined group of people who are terminally ill, of sound mind and not being pressured into a decision,” said commission member Barbara Young.
Assisted suicide would only be allowed for people over the age of 18 who have 12 months or less to live and who are deemed mentally competent. Dementia patients and those with locked-in syndrome — a rare neurological disorder marked by complete paralysis except for eye movement — would not be eligible. Assisted suicide would require the approval of two doctors and observance of a two-week waiting period after the decision was made.
Young said there was broad support for legalizing assisted suicide in England and Wales. “About 80 percent of the public says they approve of assisted suicide for people who are terminally ill,” said Young, and those who wish to die, “should be given support in ending their life because they are in intolerable pain and suffering.”
The year-long study drew on evidence from 1,300 sources, but its funding has caused some controversy. Commissioned by the right-to-die group Dignity in Dying, the report’s funding came exclusively from well-known supporters of assisted suicide, such as best-selling author Terry Pratchett, who has early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and businessman Bernard Lewis.
Critics of legalizing assisted suicide have cried foul, saying the report is biased and flawed.
The British Medical Association did not cooperate with the study and said it believed most doctors did not want to legalize assisted suicide. A government spokesperson said there were no plans to change the law.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio