after revelations on 'inside out' last night (bbc 1 7 pm) veteran broadcaster ray gosling is being interviewed by the police following admissions that he helped his terminally ill partner to die. he was wracked in pain, dying of the effects of aids... no way back, just slowly suffering. he asked the doctor to leave the room, he then suffocated his partner with a pillow, thus ending his suffering.

 

should he be prosecuted?

 

should the doctor be prosecuted (as some have suggested)?

I suspect he won't face prosecution. Whatever reason the police or Crown Prosecution Service give, the real reason is that a jury is unlikely to convict. There have been a few assisted suicide cases recently where there has been no prosecution despite overwhelming evidence that the law has been broken. That's why I don't think we really need a change in the law. The current system isn't perfect but, in general, the right outcome happens in the end.

There have been a few assisted suicide cases recently where there has been no prosecution despite overwhelming evidence that the law has been broken. That's why I don't think we really need a change in the law. The current system isn't perfect but, in general, the right outcome happens in the end.

 

That's leaving a lot to chance isn't it?

That's leaving a lot to chance isn't it?

Yes it is but I'm not convinced that a change in the law will improve things. There is always a danger in having laws which are too precise.

I think it has to remain technically illegal. If it were legalised, there would just be too much scope for abusing it. But with that said, I do think think that, in cases where it's obvious the intentions were good, the authorities should turn a blind eye to it.

I think it has to remain technically illegal. If it were legalised, there would just be too much scope for abusing it. But with that said, I do think think that, in cases where it's obvious the intentions were good, the authorities should turn a blind eye to it.

Which is largely what is happening at the moment.

my worry is that unscrupulous reletives might try to use it to get rid of a burden... but then again a precise law could legislate against this whilst allowing genuine cases to be legalised.

my worry is that unscrupulous reletives might try to use it to get rid of a burden... but then again a precise law could legislate against this whilst allowing genuine cases to be legalised.

 

Which is why I think Terry Pratchett's idea of having a Euthanasia Tribunal of experts made up of judges, doctors, etc, to judge each case on its merits it's actually a sensible idea tbh.... The person would have dignity in death, but the tribunal would have the savvy to pick up on whether it's just a case of greedy relatives looking to 'offload grannie' and grab her assets.....

13:47 GMT, Wednesday, 17 February 2010

Murder arrest over Ray Gosling's BBC confession

BBC News

 

TV presenter Ray Gosling has been arrested on suspicion of murder by Nottinghamshire Police after he admitted killing his lover.

 

The 70-year-old's confession that he had smothered the unnamed man who was dying of Aids was broadcast on the BBC's Inside Out programme on Monday.

 

The Nottingham filmmaker said he had made a pact with his lover to act if his suffering increased.

 

Police are questioning the presenter over his claims.

A police spokesman said: "A 70-year-old Nottingham man was arrested earlier on suspicion of murder following comments made on the BBC's Inside Out programme on Monday evening."

 

Mr Gosling has previously said he would not name his lover or say when the incident took place.

In the BBC East Midlands programme, broadcast on Monday, he told how he smothered the man with a pillow while he was in hospital after doctors told him that there was nothing further that could be done for him.

Mr Gosling did not name either his lover or the hospital.

 

Ray Gosling's solicitor, Digby Johnson, spoke outside Oxclose Lane Police station earlier.

 

'Very difficult times'

 

He said: "Ray has been at the police station for approaching five hours and investigations are at a very early stage.

"He's in good spirits but these are very difficult times for Ray.

"Everybody has been carefully respecting Ray's wishes and I request that you do the same."

 

Mr Gosling said he was aware of the possible consequences and had no regrets.

 

In the film, he said: "It's a terrible situation. I loved him to bits.

"We had a pact - he said if the pain gets bad and if nothing can be done, don't let him linger on.

"I don't think it's a crime."

He said: "I said to the doctor: 'Leave me… just for a bit,' and he went away.

 

"I picked up the pillow and smothered him until he was dead.

"The doctor came back and I said: 'He's gone.' Nothing more was ever said.

"When you love someone, it is difficult to see them suffer."

 

Assisted suicide remains a criminal offence, but interim guidelines issued in September by the director of public prosecutions set out the factors which weigh in favour of and against prosecution.

 

They say "if you love someone, set them free". With appropriate legislation of course, mercy killing should not be illegal and is ultimately the decision of the person in question.

I see why they had to arrest him... I know UK law isn't based on precedent (US law is), but still... the risk of a slippery slope is too big. Can someone determine the exact point at which it becomes legal to end someone's life? If not, I'm afraid, they had no choice but to arrest the poor guy.

I see why they had to arrest him... I know UK law isn't based on precedent (US law is), but still... the risk of a slippery slope is too big. Can someone determine the exact point at which it becomes legal to end someone's life? If not, I'm afraid, they had no choice but to arrest the poor guy.

 

I agree with this. At the same time I think that is YOUR life and you have the right to live or die. But at the same time it would be hard to carry this out when it comes to assisted suicide... I could see some situations in where it is used becoming very sticky.

I see it in only one way. If there is distinct evidence that somebody willed to and agreed to have their life taken should the circumstances come about where they would be suffering too much to do it themselves, then nothing should be done about it. It's ridiculous this has gone to prosecution...

I am against it in principle, no one has the right to play god plus we only have the word of this presenter that ths is what the deceased wanted, how do we know this wasn't for money or the guy took it upon himself to end this guys life as he couldn't watch him suffer ? its not up to him to play god

 

In 2 years I watched my dad go from a healthy near 14st man who played golf to barely 6 and half stone and needing to be fed by tubes but I had no right whatsoever to take it upon myself to end his life just because I couldn't bear to see him like this

 

If someone makes a "living will" where they state when they are healthy and of sound mind that if x or y were to happen then they wanted to be denied food/water/treatment or whatever then that is different but euthanasia sets a very dangerous path and I am against in in principle unless like I said someone when they were healthy made a living will requesting they be allowed to die if they were in a particular state

 

I am against it in principle, no one has the right to play god plus we only have the word of this presenter that ths is what the deceased wanted, how do we know this wasn't for money or the guy took it upon himself to end this guys life as he couldn't watch him suffer ? its not up to him to play god

 

In 2 years I watched my dad go from a healthy near 14st man who played golf to barely 6 and half stone and needing to be fed by tubes but I had no right whatsoever to take it upon myself to end his life just because I couldn't bear to see him like this

 

If someone makes a "living will" where they state when they are healthy and of sound mind that if x or y were to happen then they wanted to be denied food/water/treatment or whatever then that is different but euthanasia sets a very dangerous path and I am against in in principle unless like I said someone when they were healthy made a living will requesting they be allowed to die if they were in a particular state

 

money by inheritance wasnt the motive, the guy was dying, no way back...over..finished... all ray gosling did was end it hours early.

I am against it in principle, no one has the right to play god plus we only have the word of this presenter that ths is what the deceased wanted, how do we know this wasn't for money or the guy took it upon himself to end this guys life as he couldn't watch him suffer ? its not up to him to play god

 

This coming from the guy who wants to murder all the Haitians just because they're poor..... <_< Your proposed "cull" of all the world's poor, that aint "Playing God" then is it..???

 

Fukk off with your hypocrisy Craig....

 

I would've thought you'd be all for this what with the obvious drain on NHS resources terminally ill people and people with Alzheimers, or in Persistent Vegetative States, etc, are and all...... Oh, but of course, they're BRITISH aren't they....?

 

:rolleyes:

This coming from the guy who wants to murder all the Haitians just because they're poor..... <_< Your proposed "cull" of all the world's poor, that aint "Playing God" then is it..???

 

Fukk off with your hypocrisy Craig....

 

I would've thought you'd be all for this what with the obvious drain on NHS resources terminally ill people and people with Alzheimers, or in Persistent Vegetative States, etc, are and all...... Oh, but of course, they're BRITISH aren't they....?

 

:rolleyes:

 

No hypocricy whatsoever Scott

 

By and large we are talking about the elderly in the catergories you listed, the very same elderly that fought against the nazis to preserve the very freedoms of speech you and me have today, the elderly made sacrifices to save this country from the nazis so if NHS money has to be spent on them so be it, you will also see in the Haiti thread that I was calling for the heating bills of the elderly be paid in the winter by the government instead of foreign aid so there is not any hypocricy from me, these people deserve money being spent on them, taxpayers money to provide healthcare and heating bills for war heroes or taxpayers money spent on the likes of Crazy Chris, its no contest

No hypocricy whatsoever Scott

 

By and large we are talking about the elderly in the catergories you listed, the very same elderly that fought against the nazis to preserve the very freedoms of speech you and me have today, the elderly made sacrifices to save this country from the nazis so if NHS money has to be spent on them so be it, you will also see in the Haiti thread that I was calling for the heating bills of the elderly be paid in the winter by the government instead of foreign aid so there is not any hypocricy from me, these people deserve money being spent on them, taxpayers money to provide healthcare and heating bills for war heroes or taxpayers money spent on the likes of Crazy Chris, its no contest

 

Yeah, right, so YOU say... I beg to differ.... Little kids dying in Haiti never made that choice you prat.... <_<

 

If people expressly WANT to die, and say so (as in Terry Pratchett...), then I reckon it's more "Playing God" to deny them their wishes to die in dignity by forcing them to stay alive when that is not what they want, who the Hell are you to say that they cant have dignity in death...? Are you really that arrogant..??

 

And for what are we keeping them alive, exactly...? So Society can "feel better" about itself??? Fukk off....

Yeah, right, so YOU say... I beg to differ.... Little kids dying in Haiti never made that choice you prat.... <_<

 

If people expressly WANT to die, and say so (as in Terry Pratchett...), then I reckon it's more "Playing God" to deny them their wishes to die in dignity by forcing them to stay alive when that is not what they want, who the Hell are you to say that they cant have dignity in death...? Are you really that arrogant..??

 

And for what are we keeping them alive, exactly...? So Society can "feel better" about itself??? Fukk off....

 

How is someone not of sound mind (for example alzheimers) capable of making rational and informed decisions ? we would have elderly being killed because they are considered a burden or their kids are after their money or unscrupulous relatives play god and coerse them into dying, it would happen, you know it and I know it

 

Someone with alzheimers for example is not of sound mind enough to make rational decisions such as that so rather than have them offed for their money it is best they live out their natural life

How is someone not of sound mind (for example alzheimers) capable of making rational and informed decisions ? we would have elderly being killed because they are considered a burden or their kids are after their money or unscrupulous relatives play god and coerse them into dying, it would happen, you know it and I know it

 

Someone with alzheimers for example is not of sound mind enough to make rational decisions such as that so rather than have them offed for their money it is best they live out their natural life

 

Oh what absolute and utter CRAP!!! No one is even suggesting that... Did you not actually LISTEN to what Terry Pratchett was saying about Tribunals, etc???? Clearly NOT.... I suggest you actually go back and LISTEN to the man and educate yourself on the issue.... -_-

 

The facts are we wouldn't even let a family PET suffer this indignity, and yet we allow our apparent "loved ones" to suffer it purely out of some ridiculous, self-righteous sense of "morality"... Well, that's just utter BS!!! I dont wanna "live" like that.... I would rather someone give me an OD of morphine, smother me, shoot me... ANYTHING, but to "live" like that in some sh!tty nursing home, not even remembering my name or be able to function, and pishing into a bag because I've lost all control over my bladder.... Fukk that sh!t, that's not life..... I'm 38, of "sound mind", and I'm saying it right now in front of witnesses.....

 

As Bill Hicks once said... "Do you want your sweet, grey haired old granny to die surrounded by strangers... Or do you want her to meet Chuck Norris"...? :rolleyes:

 

I vote "Chuck"....