Euthanasia: Should It Be Legal?

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BRAVE Motor Neurone victim Annie Lindsell's ground-breaking High Court victory reopened the debate on euthanasia.

Annie died within weeks of the breakthrough which allowed her to be prescribed drugs to relieve her pain and hasten her death.

Supporters believe euthanasia should be legalised to allow people to die with dignity. Opponents describe it as murder.

So should euthanasia be legalised?

Margaret Newman from Belfast is a former nurse and speech therapist. She is a member of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society and believes people suffering from painful, incurable illness should receive medical help to die.

Dublin GP Dr Orla Halpenny is a member of Doctors for Life, a Pro-Life group formed in 1991 after the Supreme Court ruled that an underage girl could travel to England for an abortion. The organisation is opposed to euthanasia.

YES

Dying with dignity is a basic right

MARGARET NEWMAN

WHEN I was a nurse, I treated many people with terminal illnesses who suffered terrible pain.

So even before I became a member of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society, I supported the concept of dying with dignity.

Some of the people I cared for had such a poor quality of life and experienced a miserable time. …