Category: assisted suicide

Philip Murray: Looking down the slippery slope: Can assisted suicide be restricted to the terminally ill? – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted October 31st, 2024 in assisted suicide, bills, constitutional law, health, human rights, news, suicide by sally

‘Kim Leadbeater has recently introduced a Private Member’s Bill in the House of Commons which seeks to legalise assisted suicide for the terminally ill. Despite its second reading being scheduled for 29 November, the text of the Bill is, somewhat remarkably given its significance, still to be published. Yet the outline of Leadbeater’s proposals has already become known. As such, I seek to offer here a legal analysis of some of the issues relating to legalising assisted suicide in the UK, and particular the idea that any law can be effectively limited to terminally ill adults.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 30th October 2024

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill 2024-25 – House of Commons Library

Posted October 25th, 2024 in assisted suicide, bills, health, news, parliament, suicide by sally

‘The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill 2024-25 has its second reading on 29 November 2024. The text of the bill has not yet been published.’

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House of Commons Library, 24th October 2024

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

England and Wales assisted dying bill formally launched in House of Commons – The Guardian

Posted October 17th, 2024 in assisted suicide, bills, criminal justice, news, suicide by sally

‘A bill to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales has been formally introduced in the House of Commons, triggering what is expected to be intense discussion over the coming weeks and months on an emotionally charged and controversial issue.’

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The Guardian, 16th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Assisted dying: What is the current law and will it change? – The Independent

Posted October 16th, 2024 in assisted suicide, bills, criminal justice, news by sally

‘The assisted dying debate will return to Parliament this week as a new bill is formally introduced in the House of Commons.’

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The Independent, 16th October 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Husband who escorted his wife to Switzerland not denied access to her estate under Forfeiture Rule – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted October 15th, 2024 in assisted suicide, forfeiture, married persons, news, suicide, wills by sally

‘Philip Morris v James Morris, Kate Shmuel and Gregory White [2024] EWHC 2554 (Ch). These proceedings concerned the forfeiture rule under section 2(2) of the Forfeiture Act 1982 as it applies to the estates of people who travel to Switzerland for assisted dying (the 1982 Act). Mrs Myra Morris had ended her own life with the assistance of the staff at the Swiss clinic and the assistance of her husband Philip. She had been suffering from Multiple System Atrophy, a rare and degenerative neurological disorder with no known cure.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 14th October 2024

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Property and Affairs Report – September 2024 – 39 Essex Chambers

Posted September 11th, 2024 in assisted suicide, bills, chambers articles, Court of Protection, deprivation of liberty safeguards, mental health, news by sally

‘In the Property and Affairs Report: a guest post updating deputies and attorneys on important responsibilities.’

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39 Essex Chambers, 1st September 2024

Source: www.39essex.com

Health, Welfare and Deprivation of Liberty Report – 39 Essex Chambers

Posted September 11th, 2024 in assisted suicide, bills, chambers articles, Court of Protection, deprivation of liberty safeguards, mental health, news by sally

‘In the Health, Welfare and Deprivation of Liberty Report: the Court of Appeal on belief and capacity, and both sexual and medical complexities before the courts.’

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39 Essex Chambers , 1st September 2024

Source: www.39essex.com

Assisted dying bill introduced in Parliament – BBC News

Posted July 29th, 2024 in assisted suicide, bills, news by sally

‘A bill which would allow terminally ill adults with six months or fewer to live to get medical help to end their own lives has been introduced in the House of Lords, by former Labour Justice Secretary Lord Falconer.’

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BBC News, 26th July 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Assisted dying bill to be introduced into House of Lords – The Guardian

Posted July 26th, 2024 in assisted suicide, bills, government departments, news, parliament by sally

‘Keir Starmer is under pressure to fulfil a promise to allow a parliamentary vote on legalising assisted dying as a bill is to be introduced into the House of Lords on Friday.’

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The Guardian, 26th July 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rethinking the UK’s approach to dying: lessons from an end-of-life helpline – Mental Capacity Law and Policy

Posted July 22nd, 2024 in assisted suicide, charities, health, news, reports, suicide by sally

‘The Charity Compassion in Dying has published a comprehensive and powerful report based on analysis of calls and emails received on its information line, together with a YouGov poll, outlining how talking about end of life decision-making in the United Kingdom is not currently working.’

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Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 22nd July 2024

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

Assisted dying researcher sues police over arrest – BBC News

Posted July 15th, 2024 in assault, assisted suicide, damages, false imprisonment, freedom of expression, news, police, universities by sally

‘A PhD student researching assisted dying is suing police for damages over her arrest after travelling with a woman from Wales who had doctors in Switzerland help to end her life.’

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BBC News, 12th July 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Assisted dying / assisted suicide – concrete British realities -Mental Capacity Law and Policy

Posted March 27th, 2024 in assisted suicide, bills, news, Scotland by sally

‘Reading some of the recent media coverage of the issue of assisted dying / assisted suicide, people could be forgiven for thinking that resolving the debate is a simple matter. In the context of a private MSP bill being introduced into the Scottish Parliament this week (March 25 2024), it is doubly important to be clear that – whatever one’s views – implementing any decision to legalise assisted dying / assisted suicide is not going to be simple.’

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Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 25th March 2024

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

‘We need more compassion’: UK families call for assisted dying reform – The Guardian

Posted March 1st, 2024 in assisted suicide, cancer, disabled persons, families, government departments, inquiries, news by sally

‘As MPs report on the issue, a son and daughter on how their parents’ deaths led them to campaign for a change in law.’

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The Guardian, 29th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Assisted dying / assisted suicide – an informer – Mental Capacity Law and Policy

Posted March 1st, 2024 in assisted suicide, chambers articles, disabled persons, human rights, news, select committees by sally

‘In light of the publication of the Westminster Parliament’s Health and Social Care Committee’s (very good) report on assisted dying / assisted suicide on 29 February 2024 and as a modest contribution to informing debate about these issues, I have recorded an ‘informer,’ in which I give an overview of the current law in England & Wales and worldwide, set out some of the reasons why people might want change, and some reasons why people are concerned about it, and then look at what the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities might say of relevance. It is quite a lot for half an hour, and it goes without saying that it is a video which engages with difficult matters.’

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Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 29th February 2024

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

Bringing the Right to Die to the British Isles (Part II): The Cautionary Experience of Australia’s Northern Territory – Oxford Human Rights Hub

Posted November 30th, 2023 in assisted suicide, bills, consultations, euthanasia, news by sally

‘Part I of this blog discussed the legality of assisted dying in the Isle of Man at present and the proposed legalisation of assisted dying and voluntary euthanasia under the Assisted Dying Bill 2023. If enacted, the Isle of Man will become the first jurisdiction in the British Isles to legalise any form of assisted dying, although the legislatures of the UK, Ireland, and Jersey are currently conducting consultations on such laws. However, there is precedent for a semi-independent jurisdiction, like the Isle of Man, spearheading the legalisation of assisted dying and voluntary euthanasia – and being reprimanded as a result.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 29th November 2023

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Bringing the Right to Die to the British Isles (Part I): The Isle of Man’s Proposed Assisted Dying Regime – Oxford Human Rights Hub

Posted November 29th, 2023 in assisted suicide, bills, human rights, news by sally

‘On 31 October 2023, a bill that would legalise assisted dying for the first time in the British Isles passed its second reading – but not in Westminster. Rather, it was Tynwald, the legislature of the Isle of Man, which took this step towards the protection of the right to a dignified death, or, depending on one’s view, the erosion of the right to life.’

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Oxford Human Rights Hub, 28th November 2023

Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk

Assisted dying inquiry hears people in UK face ‘unbearable suffering’ – The Guardian

Posted March 29th, 2023 in assisted suicide, inquiries, news, suicide by sally

‘People dying in the UK face “uncontrollable” pain and “unbearable suffering”, which palliative care alone cannot fix, according to the first evidence to a major new parliamentary inquiry asking if assisted dying should finally be legalised.’

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The Guardian, 28th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Is it time to rethink the laws on assisted dying? – The Guardian

Posted October 17th, 2022 in assisted suicide, bills, government departments, health, murder, news, podcasts by sally

‘Laws around assisted dying have long been contentious and euthanasia remains illegal in the UK. But campaigners such as David Minns are continuing to push for change.’

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The Guardian, 17th October 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Graham Mansfield: Failed suicide pact killer calls for law change – BBC News

Posted July 22nd, 2022 in assisted suicide, homicide, murder, news, sentencing, suspended sentences by sally

‘A man who was handed a suspended prison sentence after killing his terminally ill wife in a failed suicide pact has said the law on euthanasia must change.’

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BBC News, 21st July 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Synod vote on “assisted suicide” – Law & Religion UK

Posted July 15th, 2022 in assisted suicide, Church of England, news, suicide by sally

‘Following the debate on Dr Simon Eyre’s Private Members’ Motion on Assisted Suicide on 10 July 2022, General Synod voted 289 in favour, 25 against and 33 abstentions; the Church of England issued the Press Release More funding needed for palliative care, General Synod hears, in debate on Assisted Suicide.’

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Law & Religion UK, 12th July 2022

Source: lawandreligionuk.com