Author involved in fight to legalise assisted suicide
February 01, 2010
Posted by:Oliver Jeffcott
The author, Sir Terry Pratchett, who has Alzheimer's, wants a tribunal set up to help those with terminal diseases end their lives with help from doctors. The tribunal would ensure that anyone seeking to commit suicide was of sound mind and not being influenced by others. The publicity for this campaign follows the recent trial of a mother who was given a 12-month conditional discharge after she admitted aiding and abetting the suicide of her daughter, who had been battling chronic fatigue syndrome.
A recent BBC poll indicated that 73% of people believed that friends or relatives should be able to assist in the suicide of a loved one who is terminally ill. With public opinion seemingly in favour of assisted suicide, perhaps now is the time to rethink the law in this area.