THE TELEGRAPH: Assisted suicide will be effectively decriminalised by the back door in landmark guidance to be published next week.
Final rules set out by the Crown Prosecution Service will make it clear that those who help others end their lives are unlikely to face court if they acted out of compassion.
However the factors against prosecution are likely to be altered from existing draft guidance, after it was claimed that they would leave the most vulnerable members of society at greater risk while providing immunity to spouses regardless of their motives.
It marks a legal milestone as the law against assisting suicide is in effect being changed without the involvement of Parliament, on the orders of the Law Lords.
It is also unprecedented for prosecutors to set out in such detail the ways in which people can commit a particular crime yet avoid being charged. >>> Martin Beckford, and Heidi Blake | Friday, February 19, 2010
