[WORD_ON_THE_WEB] 'People have the right not to live in pain'

Dr. Yoon Young-ho from Seoul National University Hospital Family Medicine department and his team surveyed 1,000 adults over the last year to research opinions on euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Over 76 percent of respondents responded that euthanasia and assisted suicide should be legally permissible.

Euthanasia is the the practice of ending the life of a patient to limit their suffering.

When a doctor assists a patient to commit suicide, it is deemed assisted suicide.

According to research published in a domestic academic journal, the reasons for agreeing to implement such measures were: The meaningless of life, at 30.8 percent, the right to die with dignity, at 26.0 percent, to alleviate pain, at 20.6 percent, to limit the suffering and burden on family, at 14.8 percent and the costs of medical care, at 4.6 percent.

On the other hand, the most prominent reason for disagreeing was that life is sacred, at 44.4 percent, concerns of the decision being taken out of people's hands, at 15.6 percent, and the possibility the system will be abused, at 13.1 percent.

Survey results from 2008 and 2016 showed that roughly 50 percent supported introducing the system.

#people’s_rights
“If one can’t lead a decent life and life support causes pain for the family, you should be able to choose to die with dignity.”
“I hope euthanasia is legalized so that patients in severe pain and their families have a choice.”
“I agree. People have the right not to live in pain.”

#as_long_as_its_verified
“If the process can be thoroughly inspected and the patient’s will is verified, then implementing the system would certainly be a way to protect one's dignity. The determining factor would be making sure that there is no misusage."
“It would be a relief for patients to at least have a comfortable exit out of their turmoil. Although we would need to keep watch so that no one abuses the system."

#room_for_abuse
“No policy is made without good intentions. The problem is, people often abuse it.”
“There is room for abuse. We need strict standards."

BY LEE SI-YEOUNG, YOO JI-WOO [yoo.jiwoo@joongang.co.kr]