http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13405376

Presumably the year thing would just be a burden for everyone in this issue

Anyway, my take on it is that it's an overpopulated world and this is probably the least worst option available...

I hope they limit it to Swiss citizens, we've been offloading the decision onto them for far too long.

Allow it. Suicide is not illegal in the UK so why should an assisted death be?

Result!
I know if I had a disease that would lead to a slow painful death, I'd be wanting to die in a quick and painless way much earlier.

its about time we had a change in the law in regard to chose for your own demise that is painless and relieves you of any pain and suffering which also allows you the dignity to leave this mortal coil at your own choosing ...

Because (and I'm playing devil's advocate here to a degree) there will always be a question of how much 'assist' and how much 'suicide' is involved. The objectors do have a point in that 'assisted suicide' is a pretty good cover for 'murder' if you do it right. Any time one person is involved in the death of another person, it should at least be looked at.

Personally, I believe assisted suicide should not be automatically investigated with a view to murder/manslaughter charges, which is now the case. What should happen is somebody should be able to declare their intent to end their own life and nominate a helper, and after they have died the coroner should investigate as is the norm with pretty much any death that's not natural causes anyway. If he/she finds evidence of foul play then it should become a criminal investigation but not before that point. Thus, IMO, the majority of assisted suicides would not lead to a prosecution and the legal requirements could be met with a minimum of fuss and anguish but there would be at least some safeguards.

Jon

There are cases where people are no longer able to do anything for themselves and if there was money at stake such as a sizeable inheritance there could be ulterior motives.

Both assisted suicide and euthanasia should be legal in the UK.

A lot of this "could be murder" business could easily be settled if a person made their wishes known to a doctor beforehand and it was the doctor who administered a lethal dose of anaesthetic.

along with the full protection of and in law ...

+1

Totally agree with both of you.

I understand that position that some people have. AFAIK though in the places where it is legal I don't think it's actually been an issue.

Exactly multiple safety measures will ensure that people do this with out coercion and of their own free will.

All that money saved on healthcare. I'm surprised the coalition isn't all over this.

Two words - Harold Shipman. I don't mind a doctor being the person who administers the drugs in question - in fact it should be someone medically trained at least - but there has to be some separation between who administers the drugs and who is witness to the declaration. The declaration should be akin a will; it has to be a legal document subject to some care, not just one person saying "well he said it was OK.." It should be done in front of an independent person and it should require some measure of 'being of sound mind' on the part of the individual in question.

When it comes down to it, we 're still talking about someone's death. This is not a thing to be treated lightly.

Jon

I do think that as long as the person is able to be interviewed so that they can articulate their wishes that will eliminate many problems, no beneficaries to be present. Many people when they are younger will want it. It could be the form of a videod living will, especially if people get to the point where they are not able to make their case such as Alzhiemers or Parkinsons. My gran dreaded the thought of getting senile and died before that happened. She would have wanted to be put out of her misery if she ever got to that state. It would actually make huge cost savings for the government. No more pensions or expensive hospital visits, also lower nursery costs as people could die before they became high intensity patients.