whitebeard

Don't curse the darkness, light a candle.

Date: Sat, 8 Oct 2005 13:43
From: org.opn.lists.right-to-die@lists.opn.org
Euthanasia

Subject: Many Italians Would Consider Euthanasia

Many adults in Italy believe certain persons should have the right to decide when they want to die, according to a poll by Ispo Ltd. 20 per cent of respondents believe euthanasia should be permitted, and 38 per cent would allow it only in cases of severe pain for the person who is sick.
In Italy, assisting a person to commit suicide is a criminal offence. The Netherlands, Belgium and Australia allow for some form of euthanasia. In the United States, the state of Oregon legalized assisted suicide in 1994.
In 2004, Joseph Ratzinger—who became Pope Benedict XVI earlier this year—issued a memorandum to U.S. bishops. Ratzinger wrote that Catholics who deliberately vote for a particular candidate because of his or her istance on abortion and/or euthanasia are guilty of "formal cooperation in evil."
Earlier this month, 38-year-old Salvatore Crisafulli emerged from a two-year coma in Italy. Crisafulli’s recovery happened as the Chamber of Deputies awaits recommendations from a national bio-ethics committee on setting guidelines for the appropriate treatment of patients.

Polling Data
Some people have proposed to legalize euthanasia in Italy, this is, the intentional death of another person brought upon by a third party, in the event of a serious illness or severe suffering. Do you think it would be opportune to introduce a law to allow for euthanasia in Italy?Yes: 20%
Yes, but only in cases of severe pain for the person who is sick : 38%
No: 37%
Not sure: 5%
Source: Ispo Ltd. - Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,002 Italian adults, conducted from Sept. 6 to Sept. 12, 2005. No margin of error was provided.

posted by: Whitebeard at 10:18 | link | comments |
civil rights, italy