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Assisted Death

Is it ever right to take a life? Mike Williams explores the ethical dilemmas of assisted death.

Is it ever right to take a life? Mike Williams explores the ethical dilemmas of assisting death.

In a few countries, terminally-ill people β€” suffering pain and distress β€” are allowed to get help from friends, family and physicians to bring their lives to an end. In many countries, it’s a crime.

Helping someone to kill themselves is illegal in the UK but there are attempts to get the law revised. The rules are most liberal in Belgium where, recently, a 17 year old boy became the first minor to be granted help with dying. And, in the United States, California has become the fifth state to approve what they’ve called β€œphysician assisted death”.

Presenter: Mike Williams
Producer: Ben Carter & Kara Digby

(IMAGE: Woman touching elderly man's hand. Credit: Arman Zhenikeyev/Shutterstock)

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18 minutes

Last on

Mon 3 Oct 2016 14:32GMT

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