THE Dutch lower house of parliament voted this week to legalise euthanasia, the first country to do so, after decades of unofficially tolerating mercy killings. A series of Dutch court rulings and government guidelines since the 1970s has given more leeway to doctors to help a patient die, but the criminal code was never amended. This grey area left open the possibility of doctors being prosecuted for murder. Opponents of the bill say they fear it could be abused. – Reuters