Terry Pratchett, the British author who was previously diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, is pushing for legalization in the U.K. of assisted suicide for those who are terminally ill. A BBC poll finds that the British public seems largely supportive of the idea, but becomes more ambivalent if it’s made available to those who aren’t terminally ill.
It’s interesting to note that the issue of assisted suicide has fallen off the radar in the last few years. I can’t remember any state legislature debates or ballot measures on the issue in recent memory. I can’t tell if that signifies a shift in attitude or if we’re simply distracted by our economic woes. It wouldn’t surprise me if most of Western Europe passes laws legalizing assisted suicide before the end of the decade, but a revival of the debate here in America doesn’t seem to be on the horizon.
Washington State passed the Death with Dignity Act last year; it had some interesting opponents – most notably when Martin Sheen graced our airwaves telling us how “President Bartlett would not support this measure.” (Okay, no he didn’t , but I can only assume that’s why he was picked for the PR in liberal Western WA – someone “we lefties” could look up to.)
Did not know this about Terry Pratchett. That’s terrible. I mean, him having Alzeimers, not his attitude towards assisted suicide. “Good Omens” which he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite books. Have you read it? It’s hysterically funny and witty.