单选题
On an average of six times a day, a doctor in
Holland practices " active" euthanasia:intentionally administering a
lethal (致死的) drug to a terminally ill patient who has asked to berelieved of
suffering. Twenty times a day, life-prolonging treatment is withheld or
withdrawn whenthere is no hope that it can effect an ultimate cure. "Active"
euthanasia remains a crime on theDutch statute books, punishable by 12 years in
prison. But a series of court cases over the past 15years has macle it clear
that a competent physician who carries it out will not be prosecuted.
Euthanasia, often called "mercy killing", is a crime
everywhere in Western Europe. Butmore and more doctors and nurses readily admit
to practicing it, most often in the "passive"form of withholding or
withdrawing treatment. The long simmering euthanasia issue has latelyboiled over
into a sometimes fierce public debate, with both sides claiming the mantle of
ultimaterighteousness. Those opposed to the practice see themselves upholding
sacred principles of respectfor life, while those in favor raise the banner of
humane treatment. After years on the defensive,the advocates now seem to be
gaining ground. Recent polls in Britain show that 72 percent ofBritish subjects
favor euthanasia in some circumstances. An astonishing 76 percent of
respondentsto a poll taken last year in France said they would like the law
changed to decriminalize mercykillings. Euthanasia has been a
topic of controversy in Europe since at least 1936, when a bill wasintroduced in
the House of Lords that would have legalized mercy killing under very
tightlysupervised conditions. That bill failed, as have three others introduced
in the House of Lords sincethen. Reasons for the latest surge
of interest in euthanasia are not hard to find. Europeans,
likeAmericans, are now living longer. Therefore, lingering chronic
diseases have replaced criticalillnesses as the primary cause of death. And the
euthanasists argue that every human being shouldhave the right to "die with
dignity", by which they usually mean the right to escape the horrors ofa painful
or degrading hospitalization (住院治疗) . Most experts believe that
euthanasia will continue to be practiced no matter what the law says.
单选题
From the passage we can see that in Holland______
A. a doctor who practices euthanasia will not be punished
B. euthanasia is regarded as illegal
C. euthanasia is very popular
D. active euthanasia is still illegal, but people often tolerate an
experienced doctor whocarries it out