法國離安樂死合法化更近一步

France is one step closer to legalizing euthanasia after approving a bill that allows doctors to sedate terminally ill patients until they die。

法國下議院日前通過了一項提案，允許醫生給身患絕症、無法治癒的病人注射鎮靜劑直至其死亡。這意味着法國離安樂死合法化又近了一步。

The bill stops short of recommending lethal injections and avoids the terms euthanasia or assisted suicide, but would give people 'the right to deep, continuous sedation until death'。

該提案既沒有建議“致命性注射”，也沒有使用“安樂死”或“協助自殺”的字眼，卻能給予病人“進入持續深度鎮靜狀態直至死亡的權利”。

This must be at the patient's request, but only when their condition is life-threatening in the short-term。

注射鎮靜劑必須在病人的請求下才能進行，並且只有當病人在規定期限內生命垂危時才能執行。

The proposed measure was passed by a vote of 436 to 34 in France's lower house of Parliament, and it must now be debated by the Senate。

法國下議院以436對34票通過了這項提案。目前，該提案將交由參議院討論。

Backed by the Socialist government, the bill would also force doctors in France to follow end-of-life instructions expressed by the patients themselves, or written in advance if they are no longer able to state their wishes。

該提案得到了法國社會黨政府的支持。一旦通過，法國的醫生就遵從患者提出的結束生命的意願，對已無能力表達自己意願的患者，其事先寫下的請求也同樣具有法律效力。

Earlier this month in a speech at France's lower house of Parliament, Prime minister Manuel Valls praised 'a reform that proclaims the right to die peacefully, in dignity and without suffering'。

本月初在下議院的一次演講中，法國總理曼紐爾·瓦爾斯讚揚該提案是“一次改革，可以維護患者權利，讓患者不受痛苦，得以安詳、有尊嚴地面對死亡”。

The bill has stirred debate in France. It has prompted protests by those claiming the bill amounts to disguised euthanasia, as well as pro-euthanasia campaigners who believe it does not go far enough。

提案在法國引起激烈爭論。抗議者稱，這實際上就是改頭換面的安樂死。而支持安樂死的人則認爲，這項提案邁出的步子還不夠大。

Doctors are also divided about the idea. So-called terminal or 'palliative sedation' can involve medicating patients until they die naturally of their illnesses, or until they starve。

醫學界對此也有不同見解。所謂“臨終鎮靜”或“緩和鎮靜”，意味着需持續注射鎮靜劑，直至患者因疾病自然死亡，或者，直至患者餓死。

The method does not actively kill patients, but some doctors say it can mean patients are sedated for weeks before they die, and that it may be more humane to euthanize。

儘管這種方式並未主動殺死病人，但一些醫生認爲，這樣做意味着患者可能需要連續數週注射鎮靜劑纔會死亡，還不如安樂死來得人道。