Dying British

The cover story in the Guardian today reports data from a new study on euthanasia rates in the UK. Extrapolation from the study data would indicate that of 170,000 terminally ill patients last year, over 30% died after withhold/withdrawal decisions were made. 936 patients (.16%) patients received (illegal) voluntary euthanasia--a lower rate than in other European countries, Australia or New Zealand. 1930 patients (.33%) received (illegal) "non-voluntary euthanasia"--that is, euthanasia they hadn't "explicitly requested." There were no cases of physician assisted suicide reported.
- Stephen Latham JD, PhD