Law in Britain

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Law in Britain
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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.