The Dutch parliament is currently considering a bill which would make permanent a 15-year experiment in allowing doctor-assisted suicide by codifying in law regulations which have governed such practices.
In a recent Populus poll for the Times, three-quarters of those who responded supported a change in the law to allow doctor-assisted suicide (which doctors themselves are not keen on).
Cathy Ludlum, of Manchester, a disabled-rights activist who has spinal muscular atrophy, said she is concerned the Public Health Committee has decided to hold the public hearing and worries the issue of doctor-assisted suicide will not go away soon.