How do you set up a newspaper article review?

[chika]

First of all: pls pls pls get your facts right. Beginning your article by suggesting that there's a heated debate about euthanasia in the Netherlands would be a huge mistake.
Euthanasia is hardly discussed anymore in Dutch society, and certainly not excessively. The discussion was hot in the early 70s, more than 40 years ago when the first pro-euthanasia group was founded in the Netherlands. The NPV has 66,000 members, about 0.3 % of the Dutch population, has strong ties with religious groups and even christian insurance companies (yes, they exist), and hey, guess what: it's a Patients 'Association; these people are sick and want to live and get better, acknowledging the possibility of euthanasia destroys their hope. And 8% of the NPV members means that only a little over 5,000 people carry a living will declaration which makes it clearly a minority statement. That's less than the number of people in a hundred yard radius from Picadilly Circus at any given moment.

Euthanasia was legalized in the Netherlands in 2002, but had already become accepted many years before that. The legal vacuum of the 90s left pro-euthanasia doctors in a difficult position, but if performed respectfully and conscientiously using the two criteria 'unbearable and incurable suffering', qualified doctors would not be prosecuted. The 2002 law gave their actions a legal basis, but every euthanasia case is still reviewed by prosecutors after the fact.

Euthanasia is still widely debated in other parts of the world, reason why the Dutch example is so often quoted by pro and con advocates. And quite possibly the reason why Ian McEwan wrote 'Amsterdam' btw. However, it's certainly not the standard by which all other euthansaia initiatives should be measured, every society has its own norms and values.

As for the structure and content of your article: if it's a background or informative article, the author's personal feelings are not important. If however, it's a feature article or a column, these days you're sort of obliged to put in your two cents. 300 words is far too little to outline the issue as well as voice an opinion so I would concentrate on the facts if I were you. Compare for instance, the development of Dutch society's ideas on euthanasia since the 70s and see if they also apply to the present situation in the UK. Or how the issue can be ripped out of context by for instance, former republican presidential hopeful, Rick Santorum, who recently and infamously tried to gain support by stating dumb and unfounded statements about Dutch euthanasia policies, shamelessly making the issue a political rather than a medico-social one and see how that fits in with the article under review.

Stick to the (verified and well-researched) facts. Try to be balanced, leaving room for all parties involved, including the undecided majority. Maybe even my ramblings might give you some inspiration. Good luck.