The Request for Euthanasia

Retirees have serious reason to beconcerned about the danger of a law of death worthy or euthanasia. Becauseeuthanasia does not respect the natural termination of life but is the"active termination of life," ie that some health professionals arecalled to cause death by lethal injection or by other methods.

The Belgian law states says that the patient must request euthanasia andthis request must be voluntary, thoughtful and repeated, and may not be theresult of outside pressure. It is also envisaged that the patient's requesthave to be expressed and signed by the patient or, if he can not, by an elderlyperson that the patient has chosen. Also, there will be a Monitoring Committeeto avoid any errors.

In the first report of the Commissionnoted that in 14 declarations of euthanasia or death with dignity there was norecord of the written request of the patient or another person. That is, hadkilled 14 patients who had not asked for euthanasia.

On the other requirement that thepatient suffers no external pressure to sign the petition, the experience inthe Netherlands points out that Dutch patients are often forced or notconsulted in the decision to end their life.

The New York Times Magazine described the case of Louise, an ailingwoman whose death had been ordered by a doctor and another person outside thepatient. He said he only found support for the death. He told his mother:"I feel like everyone is dragging, pressing".... to death

It seems that almost a quarter ofdoctors who practice euthanasia in the Netherlands admitted to have finishedwith the lives of patients who were not given their consent. And it seems thatthe percentage is going increased considerably

What can retirees and older people to keep them from euthanasia anddeath with dignity are applied? Putting all the means to avoid the law beapproved and therefore deny the vote himself, his family and friends to thepolitical party that promotes it in the next and subsequent elections..

It is very common that some patientswith severe suffering euthanasia signed the petition, but when applied topalliative care and pain disappeared, changed their minds and wanted to live.

What seems clear is the right of terminally ill to receiving palliativecare necessary to relieve pain until the natural end of his life.