The problem - as I am sure Jay Ginn knows, and the Dutch have realised -
that it is very difficult to know when 'voluntary' is 'willing'.
[log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> Dear Radstats
>
> I have some misgivings about monitoring death rates by GP.
> Although I obviously dont condone Shipman-type murder,
> many GPs quietly defer to the wishes of their patient (often elderly and
> ill) to be allowed to die.
> No one knows how often doctors assist them in this but I would hope that,
> in the absence of a legal right for patients to have such assistance on
> request,
> doctors hidden help is widespread.
> It would be a pity if the furore over Shipman were to frighten doctors into
> refusing
> to respond to requests from patients.
> I fear that the damage may already be done and monitoring would make it
> worse.
> Ideally (in my view) voluntary euthanasia would be openly available; we
> could then distinguish
> between chosen deaths and murder more effectively.
>
> Jay Ginn
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