Euthanasia is such a debated topic because it is not only about the patients right to die but also the doctors right to kill. The issue controversial because it deals intimately with death. Motor-neurone disease is just one of many examples of conditions that could be a justification for euthanasia, but is perhaps the most publicly raised as one of the greatest minds of this century, Stephen Hawking, has the disease. It is a horrific illness as it leaves the sufferers mind fully intact yet lets their bodies waste away, this must be unbelievably frustrating. There

are several other recent cases such as Diane Pretty, who has the disease and also Phillip Such who went on a hunger strike, who are trying to attract the attention of the British government with the aim of changing the current laws prohibiting assisted suicide and euthanasia. However, the current laws are somewhat hazy. It is illegal, but at least 50 patients were allowed to die and not be resuscitated last year alone as a result of ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ orders. Medical personnel are calling for clearer guidelines. Despite this many people believe that terminally ill people should be given the right to end their own lives, with assistance. In fact over 80% of the public are willing the government to change the law. Currently, the government therefore choose whether its citizens have the right to deciding their own death, which surely should not be so. It is also ironic that the current laws do not criminalise suicide or attempted suicide. It has been legal to commit suicide in Scotland since 1961. Statistics show that about a million people world-wide commit suicide each year. Therefore why is it illegal to commit suicide, more safely and controlled in a dignified manner? Some controversy exists becau

Some topics in this essay:
Dutch Doctors, , Resuscitate’ Medical, Diane Pretty, Holland Euthanasia, Diane Pretty’s, Stephen Hawking, Lateral Sclerosis, Sue Rodrigues, commit suicide, terminally ill, current laws, motor-neurone disease,