Prosecution numbers suggest ‘uncertainty’ around legality of assisted suicide

New figures from the Crown Prosecution Service state that there are 13 suspected cases of assisted suicide being considered for prosecution in England and Wales.

Pro-life group SPUC said the cases were evidence of “growing legal and ethical uncertainty surrounding the difficulty”.

A bill that will have legalised medically assisted suicide was recently defeated within the Scottish Parliament. The same law was being considered in Westminster but is about to expire of time.

SPUC noted, nonetheless, that although assisted suicide stays illegal, prosecutorial discretion by the authorities could mean that cases are going unpunished.

Guidelines covering the difficulty were introduced in 2010 by Sir Keir Starmer during his time as Director of Public Prosecutions. The guidelines suggest that somebody assisting a suicide out of compassion and cases where the person made a “voluntary, clear, settled, and informed decision” are less prone to be prosecuted.

Cases by which an individual is coerced, has a scarcity of mental capability, or is assisted by medical professionals, usually tend to be prosecuted under the rules.

SPUC noted that such guidelines take what would look like a reasonably strict and simple law and switch it right into a “grey area”. 

Peter Kearney, Communications Manager at SPUC, said “If, even under Sir Keir Starmer’s weaker rules, there are still grounds to analyze and even prosecute people in England & Wales for assisting in a suicide then SPUC’s position against the Terminally Ill (Adults) Bill is entirely vindicated.

“Around 3% of investigated assisted suicide cases within the last fifteen years have led to prosecutions attributable to coercion and other concerns. The proposed assisted dying regime in Westminster would allow these people to slide through the web without protection or justice.

“Coupled with the increased numbers that will use state subsidised suicide, we’re left with a tragedy for the vulnerable on our hands.”