The first blog of the day was about access to education- so naturally it follows that I should talk about the ethics of assisted suicide. Or something.
Euthanasia, for those unaware, is essentially the process of helping someone end their life. If someone told you they wanted out (to put it one way), and agreed to let you give them a lethal injection, you have partaken in euthanasia.
Euthanasia is presently illegal in the United Kingdom. Well, technically, it's not illegal, it's just not legally recognised as a thing. Were you in the above situation, you would be charged with murder. This stems from the Suicide Act 1961, which as well as decriminalising the act of suicide, created the offence of "complicity in suicide," which applies to anyone who "aids, abets, counsels or procures the suicide of another".
The two main arguments against euthanasia are the religious argument, that life is a sacred gift from God that should not be violated, and the argument that it would be too easy for someone to kill a person who did not want to be killed, and pass it off as euthanasia.
I don't think the first one really applies legally any more, particularly as we've legalised abortion. Religion is an elective thing that you follow whose rules shouldn't be forced on anyone else, etc.
The second one is a genuine concern, but I think it's easy enough to prevent that outcome.
The plan is this: legalise euthanasia when performed by a doctor in a euthanasia clinic. Eliminate trivial things like "driving person to clinic" as criminal offences. Make sure the doctor is only permitted to perform a lethal injection if they have had a one-on-one conversation with the patient- to eliminate or at least minimise the possibility that the patient is only agreeing to the procedure out of being terrorised. Possibly only allow it for people proven to have a terminal condition, as there are so many ways to get out of other situations where you may be seeing black. Definitely limit it to legal adults, maybe even a higher age limit.
Sound good? Let me know if there's something you'd change to that plan in comments!
So, that's that. We shall gather again tomorrow...
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