Personal Ethical Dilemmas

The voice to allow euthanasia is becoming louder! As a doctor involved in the care of patients who have a condition which is incureable I see the pendulum swinging to the side of legislation to allow physician assisted suicide. I am not at this time expressing my personal view , just stating my considered opinion. I see this as the new 'abortion' . In the same way that some see abortion as an inherent human right (for the pregnant woman) and others as an abhorrent practice with wider societal consequences, the same applies to euthanasia. The value and sanctity of life is brought to the fore. On the one side some argue for the inherent right of the individual to be able to make their own decicion about when they wish to end their life. Others see this as the slippery slope where vulnerable individuals may be pressured or indeed helped to end their lives without consent. Of course, there will be checks and conditions put in place as indeed happened in abortion. One of the key conditions proposed to allow euthanasia is that the person has unbearable suffering; but what exactly is this and who decides?

I have two questions; Firstly, what do you feel about euthanasia? and secondly,what would you advise me as a doctor to do should physician assisted suicide become legalised?

Views welcome.....