In 1961 The Suicide Act made it legal for people to take their own lives, this meant they could no longer be punished for succeeding at committing suicide. Personally I can only see the irony in this law, it is legal to take your own life when your physical medical health could be fine but when your lying on your death bed it is against the law to end your life prematurely, even if you weren't expected to live much longer.
Some of you may be familiar with the case of Dan James, 23, who died on September 12 after traveling to a euthanasia clinic in Switzerland with members of his family.
Dan was an under 16's rugby player who had a bright future in the sport.
His career was tragically cut short after he dislocated his spine when a scrum collapsed during a training session. The injury left him paralysed from the chest down.
It was his wishes that he did not want to live in a wheel chair and after years suffering decided he would rather end his life.
Some would say this was assisted suicide, not euthanasia because he was not dying but I think that anyone who is suffering severely has the right to chose an early death . Who's choice is it anyway?
Everyone has the right to die with dignity, pain free and with their senses intact. If someone is going to die in pain with a terminal illness why prolong their suffering?
I believe if it was legalized it would have to be heavily regulated and there would have to be a clear line between euthanasia and murder, perhaps only made legal if the patient had under 6 months to live.
Euthanasia will always be a controversial topic of discussion, some people think that we should never play the role of God and take peoples lives into our hands, however I think that by legalizing Euthanasia in the UK it will give people the choice to consider an alternative ending to a slow, undignified and painful death.
Not only for their suffering but also their loved ones.
