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Comment by grujicd | Hacker News Reader

I immediately remembered one of us, Pieter Hintjens (ZeroMQ) and his “Protocol for dying"

He was lucky to be Belgian resident and thus had a choice to go peacefuly without horrors of those last weeks and days when there’s no hope, just suffering and pain. After seeing how it looks first hand, I think veryone should have an option for euthanasia.

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This is one of those subjects where people have all kinds of fantastic reasons why it should be forbidden until it concerns them or a loved one.

On the other hand, I have a loved one who struggled with suicidal thoughts for years and told me that if they'd lived somewhere like Switzerland where euthanasia is easily accessible, they would almost certainly have used it. Now they're no longer suicidal and are very happy that they're still alive (as am I!)

That's the kind of personal experience that makes me feel much less in favour of legalisation.

It's not that easily accessible.

It's accessible in that you don't need to be terminally ill or get your doctor's permission. If you want Dignitas to kill you, they will.

It's very different in Belgium for non-terminal patients, quoting Pieter:

"I am, finally, so glad I never quit Belgium. This country allows for death on demand, for patients who are terminal or have a bad enough quality of life. *It takes three doctors and a psychiatrist, in the second case, and four weeks' waiting period.* In the first case, it takes one doctor's opinion."

What great wisdom. Thanks for sharing.

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