[A vision by Nigel Warburton, philosopher.]

[哲學家 Nigel Warburton 的展望。]

Nothing seems much different.

那裡大致上沒有什麼不同。

The world is much the same as it is now.

大致上跟現在的世界一樣。

People do the same sorts of things, have much the same joys and pains.

人們都做著相同的事，也有用相同的喜悅和苦惱。

They're born, they grow up, they work, they play, have families, love, argue, enjoy their brief time on Earth.

他們出生、長大、工作、玩耍、擁有家庭、與人相愛、爭吵，享受自己在地球上短暫的時光。

And die.

然後死去。

It's just that if you go to the outskirts of any town, there's a new facility there.

不同的地方就是當你去某個城鎮的郊區，你會發現那裡有一座新的設施。

It looks like a medical center.

看起來很像醫療中心。

It is, in a way.

某方面來說，它的確是。

A well-designed building with nice landscaping and a free car park.

這是一棟設計良好的建築，而且有美麗的景觀和免費的停車場。

If you go inside you'll discover what's going on.

如果你走進去就會知道裡面是怎麼樣了。

The receptionist can explain.

接待員會向你解釋一切。

There are leaflets too.

那裡也有廣告文宣。

Everything is well ordered and calm.

一切都很井然有序。

Doctors, psychologists, counsellors and nurses work here.

醫生、心理醫生、諮商師還有護理師都有在這裡工作。

But so too do specialists lawyers.

同時這裡也有專業律師。

This is the "Good Death Centre", provided on the National Health Service.

這裡是「安眠中心」，由國家健康衛生局提供的服務。

Those who don't want to descend into the indignity of extreme dementia, or doubt the ability of palliative care to ease their exit from life, will come here when the time is right.

那些不想深陷於重度失智症泥淖中的人們，或者不相信消極治療能夠緩和死亡痛苦的人們，會在對的時間來到這裡。

They'll choose the moments of their own deaths.

他們會選擇自己離開的時間。

Most of us have a death plan and a living will now.

我們大部分的人會有死亡計畫和寫好生前遺囑。

It's a great comfort to know that the option exists if the going gets too tough.

能夠知道在生命的最後能有除了等死之外的選項，這將會是一大安慰。

We've had euthanasia for pets for a very long time, but before the Good Death Centres, we forced our friends and relatives to endure months and sometimes years of agony and indignity against their will.

我們自很久以前就聽過寵物安樂死了，但在這個安眠中心之前，我們強迫我們的家人和親友忍受數個月、有時甚至是數年的痛苦和屈辱，違背了他們的意願。

For what?

為了什麼？

It now seems so cruel, so unnecessary, so pointless.

現在看起來好殘忍、好不必要、好沒意義。

Of course there are safeguards.

當然中心裡也是有所保障的。

No one gets to use the facility without thorough psychological examination and counselling.

在沒有經過完整個心理檢測和諮商之前，沒有人可以使用設施。

This choice is only for the sound of mind and those who have demonstrated a genuine desire to die by these means.

這個選項僅為了滿足來自最真心的請求，與屬於那些表現出真誠的慾望想要以自己選擇的方式離開的人們。

You need a good reason such as a painful terminal illness or the first signs of dementia.

你需要充分的理由，例如痛苦的病癥末期，或者初期的失智症。

Consent has to be informed.

必須知會過並得到允許。

Life is much better now.

現在生活好太多了。

It's reassuring to know you don't have to endure it even when you've lost the power to take your own life.

令人欣慰的是當你知道連了結自己的力量都失去了也不用再忍受。

I have my own death plan.

我有我自己離開的方式。

If I don't die my sleep, I expect to die in a Good Death Centre.

如果我不是在睡眠裡離開，我希望我能在安眠中心死去。

It's a comforting thought.

這是令人安慰的想法。

You should think about it.

你該思考看看。