Coroners and Justice Bill — New Clause — Assisted Suicide — 7 Jul 2009 at 20:03

The majority of members of the House of Lords voted against legalising assisting suicide in relation to terminally ill people who had declared their wish to die and wished to travel to a place assisted dying is lawful so they can end their lives.

The new clause rejected in this vote was titled: "Acts not capable of encouraging or assisting suicide" and stated:

• (1) An act by an individual ("D") is not to be treated as capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide or attempted suicide of another adult ("T") if—
• (a) the act is done solely or principally for the purpose of enabling or assisting T to travel to a country or territory in which assisted dying is lawful;
• (b) prior to the act, two registered medical practitioners, independent of each other, have certified that they are of the opinion in good faith that T is terminally ill and has the capacity to make the declaration under subsection (2); and
• (c) prior to the act, T has made a declaration under subsection (2).
• (2) A declaration by T is made under this subsection if the declaration—
• (a) is made freely in writing and is signed by T (or is otherwise recorded and authenticated if T is incapable of signing it),
• (b) states that T—
• (i) has read or been informed of the contents of the certificates under subsection (1)(b), and
• (ii) has decided to travel to a country or territory falling within subsection (1)(a) for the purpose of obtaining assistance in dying, and
• (c) is witnessed by an independent witness chosen by T.
• (3) "Independent witness" means a person who is not—
• (a) likely to obtain any benefit from the death of T; or
• (b) a close relative or friend of T; or
• (c) involved in caring for T.
• (4) D is not to be treated as having done an act capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide or attempted suicide of T by virtue of being with T when, in a country or territory falling within subsection (1)(a), T takes steps (including steps taken with the assistance of D) to commit suicide by lawful means.

Debate in Parliament | Source |