China delegate suggests euthansia experiments

BEIJING, Mar 9 (Reuters) An adviser to China's parliament has suggested the country allows regions to ''experiment'' with euthanasia as a step towards legalising mercy killing nationwide, Xinhua news agency said today.

A survey done in several areas of the country showed more than 80 per cent of people supported euthanasia for those with incurable, painful illness, with approval rates especially high among the elderly, Zhao Gongmin, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said.

''Conditions are not yet ripe for national-level legislation on euthanasia,'' Zhao, a member of parliament's advisory body, was quoted as saying on the sidelines of the ongoing parliament session in Beijing.

''I think it is only a matter of time for euthanasia to become legal,'' he added.

''Therefore, we should allow some experiments on the local level for the purpose of accumulating experience.'' Euthanasia has come up at previous parliament meetings and been a subject of controversy around the country for years.

Zhao's point comes as the government has pledged to put massive new investment in its decaying rural health care system, which is leaving many millions with no access to or money for medical treatment.

It is not uncommon for rural people with serious illnesses to kill themselves, often to avoid burdening their families with unbearable medical bills.

REUTERS SHR BS1506