EuthaNEWSia (www.euthanewsia.ca)

More than one in three German doctors would consider helping a patient to commit suicide, according to a survey which has been kept under wraps since last September. The survey also shows that around a quarter of doctors would consider actively participating in the death of a patient, according to the analysis, reported Der Spiegel.

President of the German medical association Jorg-Dietrich Hoppe said doctors should not fear being prosecuted if they help a terminally ill person kill themselves, as assisting someone to commit suicide does not attract a criminal punishment. "If a doctor is fine with it ethically, to help someone commit suicide, then they can do that under current conditions," he said.

"There are ways in which doctors can help their patients without fear of being punished — for example via issuing a prescription." He said he could not personally accept the idea, but added, "I always have understanding for individual cases. I don't know how many do it. But much happens unofficially and the prosecutors do not take action."

The survey, conducted by the Allensbach polling company for the medical association, questioned 527 representative doctors from various disciplines. It suggested more than a third of medics had been asked for help in committing suicide, a rate which rose to half among general practitioners.

Of those doctors who regularly treat those with fatal conditions, 47 percent said they are asked for help to commit suicide "frequently". Around a third said they wanted to see a legal regulation introduced. [Thanks to Dying with Dignity New South Wales for the alert on this story.]

To read the full article click on one of these links, both of which go to the same destination. A short link is provided for the convenience of readers. Also, readers may search and browse past and future advisories on the web (see bottom.)

"A third of doctors would help terminally ill die". The Local. Published: 17 Jul 10 14:07 CET. <www.thelocal.de/society/20100717-28573.html>. The Local, Linienstrasse 214, 10119 Berlin, Germany.

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The EuthaNEWSia ID for this advisory is: enid201007190931.
Mailed: Monday, July 19, 2010 14:37:53 -0600
at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

EuthaNEWSia is a free Canadian news advisory service covering end-of-life issues such as right to die, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. EuthaNEWSia is produced by the Right to Die Society of Canada which works toward a good death for all, including open, regulated and equitable access to euthanasia and assisted suicide. The editor is Michael Dawson <editor@euthanewsia.ca>.

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