法国离安乐死合法化更近一步

 　　France is one step closer to legalizing euthanasia after approving a bill that allows doctors to sedate¹ terminally ill patients until they die.

　　法国下议院日前通过了一项提案，允许医生给身患绝症、无法治愈的病人注射镇静剂直至其死亡。这意味着法国离安乐死合法化又近了一步。

　　The bill stops short of recommending lethal² injections and avoids the terms euthanasia or assisted suicide, but would give people 'the right to deep, continuous sedation until death'.

　　该提案既没有建议“致命性注射”，也没有使用“安乐死”或“协助自杀”的字眼，却能给予病人“进入持续深度镇静状态直至死亡的权利”。

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

　　注射镇静剂必须在病人的请求下才能进行，并且只有当病人在规定期限内生命垂危时才能执行。

　　法国离安乐死合法化更近一步

　　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.

　　法国下议院以436对34票通过了这项提案。目前，该提案将交由参议院讨论。

　　Backed by the Socialist³ 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.

　　该提案得到了法国社会党政府的支持。一旦通过，法国的医生就遵从患者提出的结束生命的意愿，对已无能力表达自己意愿的患者，其事先写下的请求也同样具有法律效力。

　　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'.

　　本月初在下议院的一次演讲中，法国总理曼纽尔·瓦尔斯赞扬该提案是“一次改革，可以维护患者权利，让患者不受痛苦，得以安详、有尊严地面对死亡”。

　　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.

　　提案在法国引起激烈争论。抗议者称，这实际上就是改头换面的安乐死。而支持安乐死的人则认为，这项提案迈出的步子还不够大。

　　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.

　　医学界对此也有不同见解。所谓“临终镇静”或“缓和镇静”，意味着需持续注射镇静剂，直至患者因疾病自然死亡，或者，直至患者饿死。

　　The method does not actively⁴ kill patients, but some doctors say it can mean patients are sedated⁵ for weeks before they die, and that it may be more humane⁶ to euthanize.

　　尽管这种方式并未主动杀死病人，但一些医生认为，这样做意味着患者可能需要连续数周注射镇静剂才会死亡，还不如安乐死来得人道。

　　Vocabulary

　　euthanasia：安乐死

　　sedation：镇静状态

　　palliative：减轻疼痛的

1 sedate   

adj.沉着的，镇静的，安静的

参考例句：

• After the accident,the doctor gave her some pills to sedate her.事故发生后，医生让她服了些药片使她镇静下来。
• We spent a sedate evening at home.我们在家里过了一个恬静的夜晚。

2 lethal   

adj.致死的；毁灭性的

参考例句：

• A hammer can be a lethal weapon.铁锤可以是致命的武器。
• She took a lethal amount of poison and died.她服了致命剂量的毒药死了。

3 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

4 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

5 sedated   

v.使昏昏入睡，使镇静( sedate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She's sedated,but she's probably scared out of her mind. 她很安静，但是她可能已经吓疯了。 来自电影对白
• Are you telling me the porn actually sedated you? 你是要告诉我，那毛片的确让你镇静下来吗？ 来自电影对白

6 humane   

adj.人道的，富有同情心的

参考例句：

• Is it humane to kill animals for food?宰杀牲畜来吃合乎人道吗？
• Their aim is for a more just and humane society.他们的目标是建立一个更加公正、博爱的社会。