by  Panos Panayiotopoulos ,
                                                                                                                    Lawyer &
                                                                                                 Fotios Spyropoulos,

PhD Candidate, Lawyer- Criminologist, Center for Penal and Criminological Research

This edition examines the controversial right to euthanasia. An inquiry conducted by the Centre for Penal and Criminological Research, asked passers-by their opinion on the matter:

Are you in favor or do you oppose keeping alive an incurable patient who:

a) makes a conscious and persistent request for death?


John, 52, physician

I am in favor of passive euthanasia. We cannot keep someone alive by any means if they so wish. However I am opposed to assisted suicide; to actively help the patient die. That is to say, I oppose active euthanasia.


Helen, 60, dressmaker

I am against maintaining life at all costs if the patient requests the opposite.


Maro, 20, media student

We should try to dissuade him, help him in any way we can, but it remains his choice.


George, 68, Retired Police Officer - Omonia

We must keep the patient alive. We have no right to practice euthanasia. It is prohibited. People should be kept alive by all means.


Christina, 19, occupational therapy student

I am in favor of preserving life. We can not allow euthanasia. Not even the patient has the right to take his own life. Only God can do this.


Paul, 28, shipping agent

I am in favor of preserving life, both for psychological reasons but also because you never know what may happen in the end.


Royal, 31, Nurse

I support euthanasia because when I think of myself in that position, of suffering (as a nurse this happens often) I would rather be allowed to die.


Manolis, 73, retired civil servant

I am in favor of euthanasia. If the disease is incurable and involves suffering, then what else can be done in life?


Maria, 45, Unemployed

We must keep them alive. If my child was sick, I would not wish it to die. Doctors must try to find a drug or treatment up to the last moment.


Alexander, 37, construction firm employee

Generally I am against euthanasia. It is right to make every attempt to keep a man alive. If however he wants to die and there is consent from the relatives, I think we cannot avoid or prohibit it.


b) the person is in coma and his condition was described as "irreversible"?


John, 52, physician

For someone who is in a coma and cannot interact with his environment, the closest relatives should be consulted. If they agree to terminate with all the available care, of course I accept. But who can set the time limit? We have seen cases of patients who emerge after several years.



Helen,60,dressmaker

This is debatable. It is also a psychological issue. It is better, I suppose, to allow euthanasia when the subject is living with life-support machines, and allow them to become organ donors.


Maro, 20, media student

If there is suffering it is better not to keep him alive.


George, 68, Retired Police Officer

We cannot become murderers. We must keep him alive.


Christina, 19, occupational therapy student

We must keep him alive by all means. Only God may take a life.  


Paul, 28, shipping agent

I am in favor of preserving life, because you never know what may be achieved until the last minute.

 
Royal, 31, Nurse

If the patient cannot communicate it becomes a matter for the relatives to decide. If they decide to terminate life-support then euthanasia should be allowed.


Manolis, 73, retired civil servant

If the subject is in a coma, the doctors must judge the situation and decide together with their relatives whether to keep him alive.  


Maria, 45, Unemployed

If my child was in a coma I would keep it alive until death comes naturally.


Alexander, 37, construction firm employee

I believe that if the relatives decide against prolonging one’s life then euthanasia should be permitted. But only after all efforts have shown that nothing more can be done.