Law in Britain
1.
• an offence to commit suicide.
• Anyone who attempted suicide and failed
could be prosecuted and imprisoned for up
to a period of two years.
• Life can be seen as a gift from God and so
they are guilty of total disregard for their
own life.
2.
• it is not illegal or a criminal offence for
someone to commit suicide.
• But, it is now regarded as an offence to
"aid, abet, counsel, or procure" an act of
suicide in relation to another person.
• Anyone found guilty of this offence is liable
to a prison sentence of up to 14 years.
3
• Legal distinction is that it is illegal to help
someone to kill themselves
But
• Someone who tries to take their own life is
not seen as being a criminal, and is not
punished.
• Made so that abuses could not happen
with people claiming that they were doing
it on the instructions of the ‘victim’
4.
• Active euthanasia by side effect
• A terminally ill patient may have their death
hastened by a medical treatment that is primarily
given to relieve pain
• This would have the double-effect of being given
to relieve pain, but actually killing the patient at
the same time
N.B. Doctors would need to be able to prove that
the dose was required to ease suffering, and
that is was not intended to kill.
Voluntary passive euthanasia
• "I want to die, please do not give me any
medical treatment that would prolong my
life,” the doctor cannot legally override the
patient's wishes.
UK Law
• Euthanasia is illegal in Britain. To kill another
person, even if the other person asks you to kill
them, is classed as murder. This also applies to
doctors and their patients.
• It is a criminal offence in the UK, punishable by
up to 14 years' imprisonment, to assist, aid or
counsel somebody in relation to taking their own
life. (March 2002.)
• It is not illegal for someone to commit suicide or
to attempt to commit suicide.