[Right_to_die] Guernsey debating euthanasia law

[Derek Humphry (ERGO EFN)]

The Guernsey Times (Guernsey is in the Channel Islands between UK & France)
reports:-

Vale split on euthanasia
by Nick Mollet, Max Hall





The parish's 11 candidates told the 300-plus audience what they thought of
moves to legalise doctor-assisted death.
Ann Setters asked whether candidates would allow a doctor to apply a lethal
injection to the critically ill.
Deputy Peter Derham said that his mother had throat cancer and was allowed
to die with far more dignity with her family than having a needle being
stuck in her arm.
'I don't want any Dr Shipmans in this island,' he said.
The decision had to be made by the medical profession, said Deputy Dave
Jones.
Peter Leigh would support euthanasia as long as all necessary safeguards
were in place. "I want to make that decision for myself,' he said.
Geoff Mahy believed Guernsey needed to look at high-quality palliative care
and specialist palliative-care doctors - not necessarily doctor-assisted
death.
Board of Health president Peter Roffey, might accept it in very limited
circumstances, such as the Diane Pretty case.
Youngest candidate Duncan Staples, 28, whose interest in politics was born
out of frustration with the States, believed it all boiled down to choice.
'I'm confident we can put legislation in place where people will be unable
to abuse the system,' he said.
Richard Brache said: 'Perhaps the older you get the more you value life. My
view now is that the doctors have got it right.'
Deputy Graham Guille, Douzenier Brian de Jersey and Deputy Mary Lowe were
opposed to euthanasia. Paul Mees was concerned Guernsey that was being asked
to take a lead on the issue.-----------------end