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After decades of common practice, the
Dutch have officially legalized euthanasia. The Senate passed
the bill 46 votes to 28, making The Netherlands the world's
only country with legal euthanasia.
10,000 opponents prayed and demonstrated
outside. But government ministers said 90% of the public approve
of legal euthanasia as the guaranteed rights of an individual.
The law will change little in Dutch healthcare,
says psychologist Martine Cornelisse of the Dutch Voluntary
Euthanasia Society. "However, the fact that doctors will
now be allowed by law to do this will make them feel much
better about it."
Besides verbal requests, the new law allows
citizens to make written requests for euthanasia at a designated
time as part of their wills. "In this case, the doctor
must consider any written request to die. Though the physician
does not have to honor this request, he has to study the case
seriously, " explains Cornelisse.
British
Broadcast Corporation
April 10, 2001
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