Eireann Fae wrote:"We find ourselves in support of your endeavour. Our only suggestion at this time is to change the text of Clause Five to read
'Mandates that member states opting to allow such procedures enact and enforce laws...'. Presumably, many governments will
not choose to endorse euthanasia, and would likely not care to have local legislation pertaining to the safety and consensual permissiveness of such procedures."
Section 5 has been edited. Thank you for noticing the error.
Elke and Elba wrote:And do we need clause 6? I believe that where practices are conducted, they have their own system to check themselves. We don't really need 2 tonnes of paperwork to come from Euthanasialand every day.
Section 6 is only a suggestion. In the real-world United States, for example, it is optional for states to report abortion statistics to the federal government. Here, it would be optional for member states to report assisted suicide statistics to the World Assembly.
Mad Jack wrote:I'd like to see this resolution also protect citizens of nations who travel abroad with the purpose of helping someone to have an assisted suicide.
No, that could create major legal problems in countries that prohibit assisted suicide. Allowing people to travel abroad to kill themselves is not all that problematic from a legal standpoint because those people won't be returning after they exit the country.
Aligned Planets wrote:Christian Democrats wrote:forced on all cultures
Perhaps this would be better served by
forced on all member states
In the preamble, I want to emphasize that individual opinions on assisted suicide are closely linked to cultural views on suicide and that those views may differ significantly from culture to culture (not necessarily from country to country).
Aligned Planets wrote:Christian Democrats wrote:Requires that no person be penalized
I wonder if this needs extending to include family members, friends, etc who may benefit from an assisted suicide / euthanasia death through inheritence, but may be liable to additional "death duty" taxes if a benefactor has ended their life in this way?
I am not sure what you are saying here.
The Dark Star Republic wrote:Grays Harbor wrote:For this to work, in our opinion anyhow, there must be a clause in there requiring some sort of authentication prior to the assistance taking place. Otherwise, there is that particularly nasty grey area where people can make absurd claims such as "
Granny wanted this. She asked me to help her commit suicide. Yes, she really did. Now where's my inheritance?"
"The WA doesn't have a law against murder. I'm not sure I see the benefit of introducing one in that specific case. I'd argue murder is essentially a domestic issue anyway, and probably not worthy of international legislation."
Here, I agree with the Dark Star Republic.
Auralia wrote:I would prefer if clause 2 were removed.
To gain enough support to pass this proposal, I believe that section is necessary.
Second, the General Assembly already holds, in Resolution 180, that it is not a crime to try to kill yourself. The ethical/legal dilemma, then, with assisted suicide is not with the patient but rather with the physician who is doing the assisting.
Aigyptos wrote:Our delegation can't support this proposal with the second and third clauses as written. The World Assembly has no business telling member nations that they cannot prevent their nationals from engaging in behavior abroad that is illegal within their own borders, nor does the WA have any business mandating that member states interfere in private sector employment decisions in relation to this matter.
For a blocker to be legal, it has to do something. In this proposal, I make one concession to each camp. For the anti-suicide camp, I include a clause protecting freedom of conscience. For the pro-suicide camp, I include a clause allowing people to travel abroad to kill themselves.
Separatist Peoples wrote:Tentative support. Might I suggest that in clause 3 you add:
3. Requires that no person be penalized in any way whatsoever either by the government or by a private party for exercising his freedom of conscience by choosing to participate ornot to participate in an assisted suicide or euthanasia procedure;
A small fix. I feel it might take the pressure off of individuals in societies that, while euthanasia is legal, would be received very negatively, perhaps by the local government officials, despite the sentiment of
national law. Since "penalization" has many facets, many of them subtle (a doctor getting a lateral move to, say, Waste Management within his facility), I think the addition of three words might assuage that concern.
I'm not adding that as it would undermine the whole point of this proposal: to allow member states to determine for themselves how legal or illegal assisted suicide is. Some member states, for instance, might leave the issue up to their provinces or let each hospital decide what to do. Certainly, there are no moral objections to abstaining from assisted suicide; but a hospital, especially a religious one, might wish to fire doctors whom it believes are participating is seriously unethical medical practices.
Aligned Planets wrote:So are we saying here that the individual's rights will be protected only so long as they don't conflict with the state's?
We are not discussing the "freedom" of people to kill themselves. The topic at issue is some people killing others.
Bears Armed wrote:Christian Democrats wrote:1.
Grants every member state, subject only to this resolution and active resolutions previously adopted by this Assembly, the authority to determine for itself the legal status of assisted suicide and euthanasia in its jurisdiction;
With the previous resolution now repealed we already
have that right (again) anyhows.
I therefore suggest replacing "Grants every member nation" with "Recognises that every member nation has".
I am reluctant to use the word "recognize" because that is merely a statement of fact and not a statement of action.
I would argue, at present, that national governments and the General Assembly share the authority to regulate assisted suicide. Section 1 is a definitive statement that the General Assembly is handing over full authority to the member states in this area.