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.
“Help me” – final cries of Canadian man during botched euthanasia
An 87-year-old Canadian man was not properly sedated before his life was ended by euthanasia, as he repeatedly cried out “help me” while dying. The man from Ontario, known only as Mr D, had congestive heart failure and met the eligibility criteria to end his life...
Former Attorney General shares how battling cancer made her more opposed to assisted suicide
The former Attorney General for England and Wales, Victoria Prentis, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer, has said that her first-hand experience of radiotherapy has strengthened her views against assisted suicide. Baroness Prentis, who was also...
Anorexia loophole would remain in assisted suicide Bill if brought back, expert says
An eating disorders researcher has warned that bringing back the assisted suicide Bill using the Parliament Acts would also bring back a loophole that would put the lives of people with eating disorders at risk. Chelsea Roff, the founder of leading eating disorder...
Doughnut shop euthanasia assessment leads to Canadian doctor being disciplined
After one of his patients had his euthanasia assessment conducted outside a doughnut shop, an Ontario doctor has been placed under supervision by the province’s physicians' regulator due to repeated failures to adhere to protocols and procedures. Dr James...
Canada: Declared dead, man wakes after botched euthanasia
After having been pronounced dead, a patient woke up after a botched euthanasia attempt, leading to his doctor being placed under supervision by the province’s physicians’ regulator due to repeated failures to adhere to protocols and procedures. Dr James MacLean...
Assisted suicide Bill could be brought back after four pro-assisted suicide MPs drawn near top of ballot
Four MPs who were drawn in the top seven at the House of Commons Private Members’ Bill ballot this morning voted in favour of the assisted suicide Bill in the last parliamentary session, adding weight to fears that the Bill might be brought back. Private Members’...