Euthanasia has been a topic of controversy in Europe since at least 1936. On an average of six times a day, a doctor in Holland practices 'active' euthanasia: (1)_____ administering a lethal drug to a (2)_____ ill patient who has asked to be relieved (3)_____ suffering. Twenty times a day, life prolonging treatment is withheld or withdrawn (4)_____ there is no hope that it can (5)_____ an ultimate cure. 'Active' euthanasia remains a crime on the Dutch statute books, punishable (6)_____ 12 years in prison. But a series of court cases over the past 15 years has made it clear that a competent physician who (7)_____ it out will not be prosecuted. Euthanasia, often called 'mercy killing', is a crime everywhere in Western Europe. (8)_____ more and more doctors and nurses in Britain, Germany, Holland and elsewhere readily (9)_____ to practicing it, most often in the 'passive' form. of withholding or withdrawing (10)_____ The long simmering euthanasia issue has lately (11)_____ into a sometimes fierce public debate, (12)_____ both sides claiming the mantle of ultimate righteousness. Those (13)_____ to the practice see themselves (14)_____ sacred principles of respect for life, (15)_____ those in favor raise the banner of humane treatment. After years (16)_____ the defensive, the advocates now seem to be (17)_____ ground. Recent polls in Britain show that 72 percent of British (18)_____ favor euthanasia in some circumstances. An astonishing 76 percent of (19)_____ to a poll taken late last year in France said they would like the law changed to (20)_____ mercy killings. Obviously, pressure groups favoring euthanasia and 'assisted suicide' have grown steadily in Europe over the years. Notes: euthanasia安乐死。lethal致命的。statute book 法典。prosecute 起诉。simmering 处于沸腾的状态。mantle 重任，责任。