Assisted Suicide Issues Debated in Britain

Liz Lewis — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:08:47 +0000

Swiss clinic Dignitis and the issue of assisted suicide have been in the British media spotlight lately, mainly due to a debate that is taking placing before the House of Lords.

This debate revolves around an old law and a new case. The old law, the 1961 Suicide Act bans assisted suicide in Britain and criminalises anyone who aids, abets, counsels or procures someone else’s suicide.

The new case - a 46-year-old woman with progressive multiple sclerosis who wants to travel abroad to die and wants to ensure her husband Omar Puente won’t be prosecuted if he helps her travel.

The law as it stands can allow for the prosecution of relatives and friends who travel with someone planning to undertake assisted dying overseas. Granted, government law officers readily admit that those who goes abroad for this purpose are highly unlikely to face prosecution.

But law is law. And it looks as though this one is about to be changed.

Healthbolt » assisted suicide laws

Assisted Suicide Issues Debated in Britain