作為世界上首個將安樂死合法化的國家,荷蘭最近又提出可以為70歲以上的老人提供安樂死協(xié)助服務。這項議案指出,如果有70歲以上的老人認為自己的人生已經(jīng)很完滿或者已經(jīng)經(jīng)受太多磨難,希望就此結(jié)束人生,便可以申請安樂死并得到專業(yè)人員的協(xié)助。協(xié)助老人進行安樂死的人員不一定是醫(yī)務人員,但要經(jīng)過專門的訓練并且獲得相關(guān)證書。據(jù)悉,該議案在一個月內(nèi)已經(jīng)收集了112500個支持者簽名,近期將提交議會進行辯論。
Assisted suicide for anyone over 70 who has simply had enough of life is being considered in Holland. |
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.
相關(guān)閱讀
(Agencies)
Vocabulary:
cocktail of sedatives: 鎮(zhèn)靜藥物合劑,cocktail, a mixture of drugs (藥物合劑)
(中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津 Helen 編輯)