General Article Euthanasia: the history & the law

Topic Selected: Euthanasia Book Volume: 362
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The current law

The Suicide Act 1961 makes it an offence in England and Wales to assist someone if they commit suicide. Assisted suicide is punishable by up to 14 years’ imprisonment; however, committing an offence does not automatically result in prosecution.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has to consider whether a prosecution is in the public interest and in February 2010, published guidelines that set out the criteria under which someone would be prosecuted should they be charge...

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