Euthanasia, or mercy killing, should be made legal in some parts of the country, a sociologist and political adviser has urged.

He said it would ease human suffering in terminal cases and pave the way for a national law at a later date.

"Conditions are not ripe yet for nation-level legislation on euthanasia, but I suggest the state allow certain regions, cities or provinces to formulate relevant local regulations or stipulations to legalize certain individual cases," said Zhao Gongmin, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Zhao is a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference meeting in Beijing.

He said China needs to "accumulate experience" with euthanasia.

"Mercy killing has remained a highly controversial topic in recent years. But my study shows that a large number of people agree that patients should be allowed to seek a peaceful death when there is no hope of cure and they can no longer bear the pains of illness," said Zhao.

"I think it is only a matter of time for euthanasia to become legal," he added. "Therefore, we should first allow some cases on the local level for the purpose of accumulating experience."

A province-level hospital in North China's Hebei Province each year encounters one or two cases in which a patient with a fatal disease asks for mercy killing, reported Yanzhao Metropolis Daily, a leading newspaper based in the provincial capital Shijiazhuang, yesterday.

"Most often such requests come from patients suffering immense pain from incurable diseases or being unable to afford high medical expenses," a hospital doctor was quoted.

Since euthanasia is not allowed by law, the hospital always rejects such requests, but sometimes will cease treatment at the request of patients or families, said the doctor.