Can . . . Can The Governor *Do* That?

[olivierfouquet2000]

> 
> So.  How do other countries handle these sorts of euthanasia-type
> questions?  In the U.S., I think (but am not sure) that the next of
> kin gets to decide unless there's a living will in which the patient
> has made his/her wishes known.
> 
> Cindy -- who has a lot of trouble understanding how the doctors can be
> so sure that this patient will never get better, but who figures it
> isn't her place to decide
> 

Interestingly (or sadly) enough, a similar case has just occured in France. Here 
euthanasia is illegal, even if the patient expresses his wishes to die. So this is the story : 
a young man had a terrible car accident which left his mind intact but left him paralysed, 
blind and mute. He could still communicate with his moher and one of his friend through 
a particular kind of sign language involving only his thumb. After a few years, he wrote a 
letter to the President, asking for the right to die. The President answered he could not 
grant this right. So he dictated his friend a book where he clearly stated the reasons why 
he wanted to die and asked his mother to kill him. She did, one month ago.

According to the french law, she thus has commited murder, but there is no doubt that 
the trial will end with acquittal, event though it seems to me that she will be formally 
charged.  

Excatly at the same time has started the trial of a nurse accused of euthanasia. She was 
condemned to twelve years of prison (but I hasten to say her case is really strange, and it 
is not clear wether she was a serial killer or a compassionate nurse).

I may be wrong, but I have the impression that following this two cases, euthanasia will 
become if not legal at least acceptable in France but only if the act of hastening death is 
performed by a relative, not by a member of the medical body.

All the best,

Olivier