'Passive' euthanasia is the only acceptable form

A decision on whether euthanasia should be legalised in Hong Kong awaits a paper by the Health and Welfare Branch.

By reason of mercy, euthanasia should be legitimised on condition it is performed passively.

When the death of a patient is proved as inevitable, prolonging life can only bring more suffering.

Advocates of euthanasia call for the legalisation of active euthanasia, in which physicians terminate the life of terminally ill patients.

But they seem to underestimate the effects brought about by this.

Doctors will have to choose between saving lives or alleviating pain.