This was the case for Zhang Xiaojun's family, which had spent more than 170,000 yuan ($27,300) on her treatment, according to her husband's brother.

"By late February 2011, my brother had sold his farm cattle and everything else he could to take his wife to hospitals in Lanzhou. Still, the doctors told them there was nothing they could do," Jia Shengli said.

Likewise, Deng said at the time of his mother's death he and his wife were making 1,000 yuan ($160) a month but spending 500 yuan a month on medicine for his mother.

"I don't have health insurance, and with the rent for our apartment, we barely had any money left," he said. "My son is 19 years old and needs money to get married, while the family home (in Sichuan province) needs to be repaired."

However, the financial burden is one thing that health experts say should not enter the equation.

Yu Fei at the China University of Political Science and Law wrote in a recent opinion piece for Legal Daily that euthanasia should only be used to free a patient from unbearable pain.

"Public health insurance is far from sound in China right now. The system to take care of elderly people and the disabled is not well established. We must not rush to legalize euthanasia, otherwise it will cause many problems," Yu wrote. "It's a tragedy when underprivileged people have to turn to euthanasia to free themselves from the guilt they feel for their family."

Qiu expressed similar concerns. "To assist a suicide because of ignorance or a difficult financial situation instead of seeking treatment is not euthanasia," he added.

wangqingyun@chinadaily.com.cn