Euthanasia. Mercy killing. Assisted suicide. A good death? A way to end the life of someone in too much pain rather than believe that it’s worth living any longer? A more peaceful way to end the life of someone bound to a terminal illness, bound to a slow painful demise. So, why not?

The debate on the legalisation of euthanasia is one that has been going on for years and looks as if it will continue for some time yet as the amount of people involved in an assisted suicide increases. People are rebelling against Britain’s policy on euthanasia but are worried about the outcome of their actions: prosecution and even several years in prison. Due to this, people suffering from terminal illnesses carry on unhappily living their lives so that their loved ones, who may have assisted them with the termination of their life, avoid any such charges and possible life in prison.

This clearly causes misery for families all over the country so why not legalise euthanasia? Under strict circumstances and regulations euthanasia could make life (and death) much easier for the person with the medical condition and their families who have to watch their loved one suffer through it.

Euthanasia is already legal in many countries such as Albania, Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and even in Japan where “passive” and “active” euthanasia are allowed to take place under strict conditions. However, it’s illegal in the UK even though two- thirds of the British population think it should be legal.