Assisted Suicide - A UK Perspective

The Suicide Act 1961 states that :

"The rule of law whereby it is a crime for a person to commit suicide is hereby abrogated."

And so is quite clear in setting out that the act of suicide itself is not a crime. It then goes on to say that:-

“1) A person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the suicide of another, or an attempt by another to commit suicide, shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years.

2) If on the trial of an indictment for murder or manslaughter it is proved that the accused aided, abetted, counselled or procured the suicide of the person in question, the jury may find him guilty of that offence"

The offence is known as "complicity in suicide". This situation is unusual in law in that there is no other instance in which an accessory can be committing an offence when the principal is not. Assisted Suicide - A UK Perspective - Read Full Story