Should Assisted Suicide Be Made Legal?

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Should assisted suicide be made legal? On average 55% of terminally ill patients die in pain [(Glasgow University Physician Assisted Suicide Report, 1996] and on average 86% of the public support euthanasia for the terminally ill or people on life support [British Social Attitudes Report, 1996]. Then why is euthanasia illegal in most countries? Should the termination of a very sick person’s life in order to relieve them from suffering be made legal? "I want to have a quick death without suffering, at home surrounded by my family" Diane Pretty suffered from motor neurons disease which meant that as the disease worsened it made it difficult for her to move or communicate easily. She wanted her husband to help end her life but it is illegal in the UK as it is classed as assisted suicide. She took her case to court using the human rights act but it was turned down. She was left to suffer until her condition deteriorated and she died aged 43. Should people like Diane Pretty be allowed to suffer? However, perhaps euthanasia may be seen as a rejection of the importance and value of human life. After all people’s lives are being taken. But people may say its fine to take someone’s life in cases such as self-defense but an innocent person is being saved in this case whereas euthanasia is just taking a life. It seems that euthanasia may devalue some lives as it suggests some people’s lives are not worth living maybe just because they are terminally ill. Some people fear this is the message being sent- can we allow this? Both of us I’m sure would agree that this is not a message that should be sent out; of course all lives are valuable. Not surprisingly it will expose vulnerable people to pressure to end their lives. Many believe that taking someone else’s life, is a line than should never be crossed, whatever the circumstances. Most religious people disagree with

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