Assisted suicide usually involves a health practitioner prescribing a lethal dose for a person to administer themselves, usually by swallowing a combination of drugs.
In the United Kingdom, the Suicide Act 1961 legalised the attempt to take one’s own life, but it kept illegal the assistance of another’s death.
Assisted suicide is legal in a handful of jurisdictions globally including Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg and a small number of states in the US.
Right To Life UK campaigns against any attempt to legalise assisted suicide, and for the development of palliative care services and end of life care that remove any perceived need for assisted suicide.
More MPs change their mind to indicate they will vote against assisted suicide Bill
In a further sign that the tide is turning against Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide Bill, reports are emerging that opposition to the Bill among MPs is growing, as two more MPs have changed their minds and indicated they will vote against the Bill at Third Reading...
Support for assisted suicide Bill “ebbing away” as another MP indicates they will now vote against it
In a further blow to Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide Bill, another MP who initially backed the Bill at Second Reading has indicated he has changed his mind, and will vote against it at next month’s Third Reading vote. Explaining his reasoning, Liberal Democrat MP...
Man nearly dies after allegedly taking partner’s assisted suicide drugs
A man in Queensland, Australia, has nearly died after allegedly taking his partner’s lethal drugs for an assisted suicide. The couple allegedly joined a health worker in drinking shots of alcohol at Gold Coast University Hospital’s ‘Voluntary Assisted Dying’(VAD) unit...
Justice Secretary condemns inadequate process of assisted suicide Bill
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has criticised the lack of time given to scrutinising Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide Bill, and suggested that the legislation is being rushed through. Prior to next month’s vote at Third Reading, Cabinet minister Mahmood has...
‘Dr Death’ proposes implant to kill dementia patients who miss daily prompts
The inventor of the Sarco gas chamber assisted suicide pod, Dr Philip Nitschke, has announced the creation of a 'kill switch' implant for people with dementia that would automatically release a lethal substance into the user's body once they stop responding to daily...
Children’s Commissioner: Children must be heard in assisted suicide Bill debate
The Children’s Commissioner has said it is "deeply concerning" that Parliament has failed to consult under-18s on the issue of assisted suicide at any stage of Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide Bill, even though there is nothing in the Bill to prevent doctors from...