The PM has long been opposed to the issue, but Wednesday marks the first time that he has clearly and publicly elucidated his stance on the issue. Brown cites the "pressure" that sick persons would be under to end their lives is not acceptable.
In his words:
"The risk of pressures – however subtle – on the frail and the vulnerable, who may feel their existences burdensome to others, cannot ever be entirely excluded. And the inevitable erosion of trust in the caring professions – if they were in a position to end life – would be to lose something very precious."
He claims that the change in the law would "fundamentally change the way we think about mortality".
"I know in my heart that there is such a thing as a good death," he says. "And I believe it is our duty as a society to provide the skilled and loving care that makes it possible; and to use the laws we have well, rather than rush to change them."
Although the possibility that external pressure might convince a person to prematurely end their own life is a concern, I can't accept that the majority of persons who consider assisted suicide are blindly encouraged to do so by their families. I'm under the impression that persons who consider this option have suffered, or continually suffer, from illnesses and injuries that make death preferable to life. With the proper legal protections and emotional support from doctors or other medical professionals, I believe an individual can decide to end their own life when they so desire.http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brown-takes-stand-against-assisted-suicide-1908651.html
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