_Myopia_
18-01-2004, 01:28
Due to the recent passing of the Legalise Euthanasia resolution in the UN, I adapted a proposal I had made earlier, in order to make it into a modifier to the current law. It is trying to clarify the problems that plagued the recent resolution, and I didn't want to submit it until somebody can tell me whether it is too close to being a repeal, and thus a game mechanics proposal, which I guess would be deleted - someone suggested that I go here to check if the text is ok:
Euthanasia Clarification Bill
Human Rights - Strong
Definitions
-Suicide - an individual killing himself
-Voluntary euthanasia - the killing of an individual by another individual, at the express, uncoerced request of the first individual.
-Involuntary euthanasia - the killing of a terminally or incurably ill patient according to the wishes of friends or family of the patient, when the patient is incapable of making/expressing his own decision on the matter.
Postulating that
-The individual should be sovereign over his own body
-Such a fundamental human right is the business of an international body such as the NS UN
-Unnecessary suffering is often prolonged against the wishes of terminally ill patients
-Current UN law is unclear and loophole-ridden
Therefore
-It must remain possible for individuals capable of making adult decisions to choose to die
-It must not be obligatory to allow involuntary euthanasia, which can be seen as a gross violation of a human's right to life - which should only be removed at the individual's request.
The UN hereby resolves that
-Every individual has the right to attempt to commit suicide without being criminalized
-Any adult individual considered by a majority of a panel of 3 respected, qualified psychiatrists to be of a sane state of mind and capable of making such a decision, may make and sign a legal living will to say that under any specified conditions, in a situation when he is unable to kill himself, he is to be killed in the most humane way possible. That document may be changed at any time when the conditions above are fulfilled.
-The wishes expressed in the most recent copy of any such document shall be respected, unless the individual is capable of expressing his wishes and has changed his mind.
-The document may also specify who (in extremely unlikely circumstances where a willing medical doctor cannot be found) may humanely euthanise the individual in the specified conditions without criminalisation.
-If an adult patient incapable of committing suicide expresses his wish to die, and it is decided by a majority of a panel of 5 respected, qualified psychiatrists that he is in a sane state of mind, able to make such a decision, that wish should be respected and he should be killed in the most humane way possible.
-No individual may be forced to euthanise a patient – if his doctor objects to doing so, another doctor must be found. In the extremely unlikely event that no willing doctor can be found in the country, and it is not possible to get a willing doctor from another country, then another adult individual may be found according to the terms in the aforementioned living will. In the fantastically unlikely event that no qualified medical professional and none of the specified individuals (if none are specified, it shall be presumed that any adult is acceptable) are prepared and able to perform the act, then the patient's wishes must be ignored until a willing appropriate individual can be found.
-If the euthaniser is not a qualified medical professional, the government shall provide appropriate drugs, and instructions on their use. Said individual shall not be accused of murder unless it can be shown, through the country's legal system, that he knowingly and purposefully disregarded the instructions provided and that this resulted in an unnecessarily painful, inhumane death.
-Nations may make the conditions for requesting VOLUNTARY euthanasia less stringent then specified above, but they may not make them more stringent (e.g. it would be possible to remove the requirement for psychiatrists' approval of the patient's mental state, but it would not be possible to increase the number of approvals needed).
-This resolution shall not affect the legal status of involuntary euthanasia in any nation; however it shall not be seen as a sanction for the involuntary euthanising of patients at the will of the government against the will of family and friends.
Euthanasia Clarification Bill
Human Rights - Strong
Definitions
-Suicide - an individual killing himself
-Voluntary euthanasia - the killing of an individual by another individual, at the express, uncoerced request of the first individual.
-Involuntary euthanasia - the killing of a terminally or incurably ill patient according to the wishes of friends or family of the patient, when the patient is incapable of making/expressing his own decision on the matter.
Postulating that
-The individual should be sovereign over his own body
-Such a fundamental human right is the business of an international body such as the NS UN
-Unnecessary suffering is often prolonged against the wishes of terminally ill patients
-Current UN law is unclear and loophole-ridden
Therefore
-It must remain possible for individuals capable of making adult decisions to choose to die
-It must not be obligatory to allow involuntary euthanasia, which can be seen as a gross violation of a human's right to life - which should only be removed at the individual's request.
The UN hereby resolves that
-Every individual has the right to attempt to commit suicide without being criminalized
-Any adult individual considered by a majority of a panel of 3 respected, qualified psychiatrists to be of a sane state of mind and capable of making such a decision, may make and sign a legal living will to say that under any specified conditions, in a situation when he is unable to kill himself, he is to be killed in the most humane way possible. That document may be changed at any time when the conditions above are fulfilled.
-The wishes expressed in the most recent copy of any such document shall be respected, unless the individual is capable of expressing his wishes and has changed his mind.
-The document may also specify who (in extremely unlikely circumstances where a willing medical doctor cannot be found) may humanely euthanise the individual in the specified conditions without criminalisation.
-If an adult patient incapable of committing suicide expresses his wish to die, and it is decided by a majority of a panel of 5 respected, qualified psychiatrists that he is in a sane state of mind, able to make such a decision, that wish should be respected and he should be killed in the most humane way possible.
-No individual may be forced to euthanise a patient – if his doctor objects to doing so, another doctor must be found. In the extremely unlikely event that no willing doctor can be found in the country, and it is not possible to get a willing doctor from another country, then another adult individual may be found according to the terms in the aforementioned living will. In the fantastically unlikely event that no qualified medical professional and none of the specified individuals (if none are specified, it shall be presumed that any adult is acceptable) are prepared and able to perform the act, then the patient's wishes must be ignored until a willing appropriate individual can be found.
-If the euthaniser is not a qualified medical professional, the government shall provide appropriate drugs, and instructions on their use. Said individual shall not be accused of murder unless it can be shown, through the country's legal system, that he knowingly and purposefully disregarded the instructions provided and that this resulted in an unnecessarily painful, inhumane death.
-Nations may make the conditions for requesting VOLUNTARY euthanasia less stringent then specified above, but they may not make them more stringent (e.g. it would be possible to remove the requirement for psychiatrists' approval of the patient's mental state, but it would not be possible to increase the number of approvals needed).
-This resolution shall not affect the legal status of involuntary euthanasia in any nation; however it shall not be seen as a sanction for the involuntary euthanising of patients at the will of the government against the will of family and friends.