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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
In a landmark1 decision, a court in Australia has given a paralyzed man the right to die by allowing him to refuse food and water. Christian2 Rossiter has begged to be allowed to die after accidents left him a quadriplegic.
Christian Rossiter has said that he felt like a prisoner in his own body, unable to move or carry out the most basic of tasks.
Western Australia's Supreme3 Court has approved his request to be allowed to die. The former stockbroker4 can now order his caretakers at a nursing home in Perth to stop feeding him.
Chief Justice Wayne Martin ruled staff would not be criminally responsible if they adhered to the quadraplegic's wishes and did not treat him or give him food and liquids.
The judge explained that the patient had the mental capacity to make an informed decision.
The ruling sets a legal precedent5 in Australia, where helping6 someone to take his own life is punishable by lengthy7 prison terms in some states.
John Hammond is Rossiter's lawyer.
"Mr. Rossiter is very, very happy with this decision. It has been an ordeal8 for him," Hammond said. "It is quite clear to see the physical discomfort9 he has been through throughout these proceedings10. He has been incredibly brave throughout the whole process and he has now set some parameters11 through which doctors and patients can now deal."
Rossiter was in court to hear this landmark decision. Helped by a nurse, he arrived in a specially12 fitted wheelchair. In a statement read to the court, he said that while he had no fear of death, he was frightened of pain.
Since the 49-year-old suffered catastrophic injuries after separate accidents, he has constantly asked for one thing: the right to die in peace.
Rossiter's case is likely to intensify13 the debate over euthanasia, or killing14 someone to end suffering, which remains15 illegal across Australia, and in most countries.
1 landmark | |
n.陆标,划时代的事,地界标 | |
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2 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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3 supreme | |
adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的 | |
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4 stockbroker | |
n.股票(或证券),经纪人(或机构) | |
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5 precedent | |
n.先例,前例;惯例;adj.在前的,在先的 | |
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6 helping | |
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的 | |
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7 lengthy | |
adj.漫长的,冗长的 | |
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8 ordeal | |
n.苦难经历,(尤指对品格、耐力的)严峻考验 | |
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9 discomfort | |
n.不舒服,不安,难过,困难,不方便 | |
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10 proceedings | |
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报 | |
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11 parameters | |
因素,特征; 界限; (限定性的)因素( parameter的名词复数 ); 参量; 参项; 决定因素 | |
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12 specially | |
adv.特定地;特殊地;明确地 | |
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13 intensify | |
vt.加强;变强;加剧 | |
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14 killing | |
n.巨额利润;突然赚大钱,发大财 | |
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15 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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