On Wednesday, a British man was jailed for 14 years for selling poisonous chemicals online to allow people to commit suicide. Miles Cross sold the fatal drugs to four people, two of whom, tragically, have since died as a result. In court he appeared to defend his actions, arguing that he simply wanted to “help others end their lives”.
The case, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, is shocking. But it is also symptomatic of a broader and deeply troubling trend: the normalisation of suicide across Western societies. The House of Lords is currently scrutinising the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. At the same time, society has rightly condemned reckless individuals who promote or provide instructions for people to end their lives.
