A Chinese sociologist and political advisor has called for legal
permission to carry out experiments on euthanasia, sometimes
referred to as 'mercy killing', in certain regions of the country
to help 'gain experience' of the subject.
Zhao Gongmin, a member of the 10th National Committee of the
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC),
is in Beijing to attend the?Fourth
Plenary?Session of this top advisory body of China.
"Conditions are not right yet for the nation-level legislation
on euthanasia, but I suggest the state allow certain regions,
cities or provinces to formulate relevant local regulations or
stipulations to legalize certain cases," said Zhao, also a research
fellow with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
"Mercy killing has remained a highly controversial topic in
recent years," said Zhao. "But according to my study a large number
of people agree that patients should be allowed to seek a peaceful
death when there is no hope of a cure and they can no longer bear
the pain of their?illness," said Zhao.
"I think it is only a matter of time for euthanasia to become
legal," he added. "Therefore, we should first allow some
experiments at a local level for the purpose of accumulating
experience."
A province-level hospital in north China's Hebei
Province encounters one or two cases a year in which the
patient with a fatal disease asks for mercy killing, reported
Yanzhao Metropolis Daily, a leading newspaper based in the
provincial capital Shijiazhuang on Monday.
"Most often such requests come from patients suffering immense
pain from incurable diseases or being unable to afford high medical
expenses," a doctor with the hospital was quoted as saying by the
newspaper.
Since euthanasia is not allowed by Chinese law, hospitals always
reject such requests, but will sometimes stop ongoing treatment
according to the wishes of patients and their families, said the
doctor.
Media reports said that China's leading IT expert Wang Xuan, who
invented a computerized laser photocomposition system for Chinese
character typesetting reputed as 'a new revolution of the Chinese
printing sector', also requested access to mercy killing before he
passed away last month at the age of 69.
"I firmly demand the application of euthanasia when my illness
proves incurable," Wang, also a vice chairman of the 10th CPPCC
National Committee, reportedly wrote in his will. "I don't want to
waste any money of the state or efforts of the doctors."
(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2006)