作为世界上首个将安乐死合法化的国家，荷兰最近又提出可以为70岁以上的老人提供安乐死协助服务。这项议案指出，如果有70岁以上的老人认为自己的人生已经很完满或者已经经受太多磨难，希望就此结束人生，便可以申请安乐死并得到专业人员的协助。协助老人进行安乐死的人员不一定是医务人员，但要经过专门的训练并且获得相关证书。据悉，该议案在一个月内已经收集了112500个支持者签名，近期将提交议会进行辩论。
Assisted suicide for anyone over 70 who has simply had enough of life is being considered in Holland.
Non-doctors would be trained to administer a lethal potion to elderly people who 'consider their lives complete'.
The radical move would be a world first and push the boundaries even further in the country that first legalized euthanasia.
The Dutch parliament is to debate the measure after campaigners for assisted suicide collected 112,500 signatures in a month.
Euthanasia has been available for the terminally ill in Holland since 2002 in cases of 'hopeless and unbearable suffering' certified by two doctors, but this would be a far bigger step.
Supporters say it would offer a dignified way to die for those over 70 who just want to give up living, without having to resort to difficult or unreliable solitary suicide methods.
They might include widows and widowers overwhelmed by grief, those unwilling to face the frailties of extreme old age or people determined to ‘get out while they’re ahead’ and meet death on their own terms.
The assistants who administered the deadly cocktail of sedatives would need to be certified, campaigners said. |
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