(The Economist) – There is huge pressure on British politicians to legalise assisted dying. However, doing so would represent a dangerous change in British criminal law. It would fundamentally alter the relationship between doctor and patient, giving doctors the power to kill as well as cure.
Such immense responsibility would need the strictest of regimes to ensure it would not be abused. Given the stakes involved we must pay careful attention to the practice of assisted dying in other countries and states where it has already been legalised.
What we learn from these places is that the slippery slope is real. It has two distinct elements. First, there is a steady increase year on year in the number of people being killed or helped to commit suicide by their doctors. Second, once assisted dying has been legalised for one category of people, it is only a matter of time before it is extended to others. CONTINUE