Euthanasia

Yes, this is a very touchy subject--- in all countries. The article in The New York Times, "A Poet Crusades for the Right to Die His Way", describes a person's desire to be euthanized--- and the government's refusal to allow such a deed to occur.

This raises the question--- if the person is fully cognizant of his/her thoughts and actions and desires to be taken off artificial life support, why should s/he be challenged? According to the article, "there is a serious attempt in Parliament to pass a 'living will' law that would allow Italians to declare what medical treatments they would accept."

Everyone should have a right to say how he/she should die--- and especially if he/she wants to receive artificial life support to prolong life--- a life that may or may not be the life their used to.

Perhaps one of the issues in this particular case is that everything is being done publicly--- after all, the patient was a central figure to the advocacy of euthanasia in Italy. However, this issue should be made public--- just as in the USA, the case of Terry Schaivo made the importance of a living will front and center.