Professor Merete Nordentoft:

I have a comment to follow what Professor MacLeod said. In Denmark a majority of the population is in favour of euthanasia but, as has been said, part of this is because people are not aware that patients are not forced to accept life-prolonging treatment. There is also the fact that doctors can provide medication to ease pain even when it shortens life. We have not expanded palliative care fully. I believe this will remove a lot of the anxiety associated with the population's attitude to this matter. Of course this is anecdotal but it is our perception that a lot of people who are in favour of assisted dying are not aware that doctors can provide life-shortening medication or that people are not forced to accept life-prolonging medication or treatment.