BBC presenter confesses to mercy killing

Zapatista · February 17, 2010, 08:13:04 AM

A BBC presenter has told TV viewers that he carried out a mercy killing on a former lover who was suffering from AIDS.

Ray Gosling, 70, revealed last night that he had smothered the unnamed partner as he lay in hospital 'in terrible, terrible pain'

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0216/goslingr.html

Tough call?

AM I stealing longrunsthefox's thunder here? He loves these moral dilema threads.

ardmhachaabu · February 17, 2010, 09:33:30 AM

It's murder zap, no matter what way you look at it. There is no law in the UK which permits euthanasia so yer man Gosling took things into his own hands and killed someone

Zapatista · February 17, 2010, 10:05:16 AM

I don't disagree but is it muder when it's done with the intent of helping the victim?

Doogie Browser · February 17, 2010, 10:32:21 AM

He has been scooped today

Massey-135 · February 17, 2010, 10:35:05 AM

It's murder in the eyes of the law, but I wouldn't want him thrown in jail. I've sympathy for people in that situation

theskull1 · February 17, 2010, 10:36:12 AM

Theres nothing to see here ......ardmhachaabu has called it in black and white....move on people $:-\$

delboy · February 17, 2010, 12:16:16 PM

Doesn't sound like assisted suicide, the guy would need to have started smothering himself and got gosling to finish the job for it to fall into that category.

Technically its probably murder but he'll never be charged for it, they don't have a name for the 'victim' and they could never determine if this action actually caused the death or whether the terminally ill man died of natural causes.

As for assisited suicide i think individuals should be allowed to determine how they die and if they want family members to assist them then they shouldn't be prosecuted. Legally the state wants to own your life and death, morally the church want to own it, i say stuff them it belongs to the individual and if anyone should have a say in the matter it should be loved ones and family rather than lawyers and priests.

An Gaeilgoir · February 17, 2010, 12:28:05 PM

There is a bit of doubt in the UK today as if this incident ever happened. It was discussed on Pat Kenny earlier.

Doogie Browser · February 17, 2010, 12:33:56 PM

Quote from: An Gaeilgoir on February 17, 2010, 12:28:05 PM
There is a bit of doubt in the UK today as if this incident ever happened. It was discussed on Pat Kenny earlier.

Thought it was a bit sensationalist myself

delboy · February 17, 2010, 01:04:07 PM

Also had the same feeling that it was makey uppey.

Celt_Man · February 17, 2010, 01:07:03 PM

As to the central point in this thread - I doubt that any of us would know what we would really do in that situation unless you were in it.

give her dixie · February 17, 2010, 01:31:17 PM

Sure didn't Dot Cotton kill Ethel in a mercy killing and get away with it.

Doogie Browser · February 17, 2010, 01:34:12 PM

Quote from: give her dixie on February 17, 2010, 01:31:17 PM
Sure didn't Dot Cotton kill Ethel in a mercy killing and get away with it.

What happened her little Willy too

winsamsoon · February 17, 2010, 01:55:23 PM

Quote from: ardmhachaabu on February 17, 2010, 09:33:30 AM
It's murder zap, no matter what way you look at it. There is no law in the UK which permits euthanasia so yer man Gosling took things into his own hands and killed someone

Even if there was a law it is still murder. Some countries permit it but it is still taking someones life so it's murder

Asal Mor · February 17, 2010, 02:04:44 PM

If someone is suffering badly and wants to die it's a kind and selfless act to help them. You are putting your own future at risk in order to help someone you love. The people who call it murder - what would you do if someone you loved was in horrific pain and wanted to die?

I'm not talking about the BBC presenter case here; just making a general point.