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The following article is from the SAVES newsletter, The
VE Bulletin, Vol 17 No 3, November 00
World News
Japan
The total number of members of the Japan Society for the Dying with Dignity
stood at 92,555 at the end of May this year. The number of members increased
by 6700 from the 1998 survey, with the percentage of older members also
increasing. 73% percent of members are aged 65 and over, marking a 3.7%
increase over the last two years.
(Japan Society for Dying with Dignity newsletter June 2000)
Canada
A new study into the attitudes of terminally ill patients towards voluntary
euthanasia has found that 73% support the legalisation of assisted dying.
The authors of the study interviewed 70 patients with cancer who are currently
receiving palliative care in Canada. The majority support for a change
in the law was based on pain (current or future), and the individual's
right to choose.
Those who opposed legislation did so due to religious and moral concerns.
58% of those interviewed thought that if it were legal, they may ask for
a hastened death at some point in the future, while 12% would ask for help
to die immediately if they could.
The authors concluded that "for patients who would actually make requests
for a physician-hastened-death ... psychological considerations may be
at least as salient as physical symptoms".
Reference:
Wilson, KG et al, "Attitudes of terminally ill patients toward euthanasia
and physician - assisted suicide". Archives of Internal Medicine, Sept
11 2000: 160:2454-2460
(Voluntary Euthanasia Society website:www.ves.org.uk)
Spain
The Catalan Parliament has approved a bill allowing patients to clarify
their views on medical treatment by completing advance directives. Members
of all parties have agreed to the legislation. Under the proposal patients
must sign in the presence of three witnesses or a notary. Currently some
Catalan hospitals keep records of patient requests, and it is uncertain
how this may further develop once the law is in place.
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