I must say that I respect Grand Duke Henri for not wanting to sign this bill. If he is opposed to it and the PM is opposed to it, I wonder who exactly is pushing for it? Is it most Luxembourg people or is it a vocal minority who have pressured parliamentarians into voting for this? Has there been a referendum for example?
Personally, I agree with the palliative care/hospice approach that another poster mentioned.
All other parties except for Juncker's wish a law on the matter.
You can't really say that until you,or anyone for that matter,has to decide and face that moment.Palliative care is absolutely good,and people do not have to suffer pain,at all,ever.But if they wish to end their lives as they've become a mere shadow of their old selves due to fe a terminal illness,then they should have the right to say so and act.What happens now is that many doctors find themselves in a position that they decide ad hoc with the patient and,and family,on how to go about after having been confronted with the patients highly uncomfortable situation for a while.
I have known people who opted for it,and at the moment supreme refused,their good right,and I have seen devout catholics,of whom I never thought they would even mention/raise the subject,ask for the possibility to have euthanasia.People are people and change minds quick in many matters,but certainly in this.What the church thinks
on matters medical is of no consequence/importance at all anymore,that was in the past,it is the human suffering
and human dignity that matters.
Hold on,ofcourse many,thank God,still hold to their faith as it does give them much comfort,and I respect that.
But meanwhile the world,and most of all the medical world,has changed enormously,views have not stood still
but evolved,so it would be a good if euthanasia comes out in the open,becomes legal,instead of the sneaky
backdoor partly "illegal" ways in use now as described above.Everywhere.I do not know what I would do in such
a situation,you/I can't tell untill actually faced with it.Believe me,one has gone through many ordeals before they
reach for that decision.
All in all,as it emerges,it is said PM Juncker tackled the Grand Duke in this matter,with the tacky aside,that Juncker opposes the law too,but as rumours have it,the working relationship between the Grand Duke and PM Juncker,who's been in office for 13 years,is far from ideal.The GD has never before been involved in politics,only environmental issues have his open support.He is a modern and businesslike man,no-one expected him to move into the open with his view on euthanasia,but Juncker sees his chance fit to kick Henri in the behind.
I think PM's shouldn't be in office for 13 years,power corrupts,and this present day machiavelli has been around too long.
You might find Luxembourgians demand the PM to step back,but never Henri.As we say in dutch,this story will have a little tail.....
Interesting:
HenriM made a translation of articles in this mornings papers:
http://members3.boardhost.com/Beneluxroyal/msg/1228348919.html
courtesy Henri_M,BRMB.