The Attorney General sought a declaration as to whether it would be the crime of aiding and abetting or counselling and procuring suicide, to distribute a booklet published by the respondent which described various effective ways of committing suicide. The stated aim of the booklet was to help readers overcome the fear of dying. Held: … Continue reading Attorney-General v Able and Others: QBD 28 Apr 1983
The court considered the purpose of section 2 of the 1961 Act. Lord Lane CJ observed: ‘It is clear . . that Parliament had in mind the potential scope for disaster and malpractice in circumstances where elderly, infirm and easily suggestible people are sometimes minded to wish themselves dead. It is a crime, whether you … Continue reading Regina v Hough: CACD 1984
Application for judicial review, seeking a declaration of incompatibility under s. 4(2) of the Human Rights Act 1998 in relation to the prohibition on assisted suicide contained in s. 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961 Judges: Sir Brian Leveson P QBD,Whipple DBE J Citations: [2017] EWHC 3181 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Human Rights Act 1998 … Continue reading T v Secretary of State for Justice: Admn 7 Dec 2017
Need for Certainty in Scope of Offence The appellant suffered a severe chronic illness and anticipated that she might want to go to Switzerland to commit suicide. She would need her husband to accompany her, and sought an order requiring the respondent to provide clear guidelines on the circumstances under which someone might be prosecuted … Continue reading Purdy, Regina (on the Application of) v Director of Public Prosecutions: HL 30 Jul 2009
This matter is concerned with the appropriate level of sentencing for the offence of encouraging or assisting suicide pursuant to Section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961. It is a crime which is relatively rarely prosecuted. [2014] EWCA Crim 114, [2014] WLR(D) 77 Bailii, WLRD Suicide Act 1961 2(1) England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: … Continue reading Howe, Regina v: CACD 10 Feb 2014
Right to Life Did Not include Right to Death The applicant was paralysed and suffered a degenerative condition. She wanted her husband to be allowed to assist her suicide by accompanying her to Switzerland. English law would not excuse such behaviour. She argued that the right to die is not the antithesis of the right … Continue reading Pretty v The United Kingdom: ECHR 29 Apr 2002
The applicant was terminally ill, and entirely dependent upon her husband for care. She foresaw a time when she would wish to take her own life, but would not be able to do so without the active assistance of her husband. She sought a proleptic permission, a promise that he would not be prosecuted. Held: … Continue reading Regina (on the Application of Pretty) v Director of Public Prosecutions and Secretary of State for the Home Department: HL 29 Nov 2001
The applicant suffered mutiple sclerosis and considered that she might wish to go abroad to end her life. She asked the court to make more clear the guidance provided by the Director as to whether her partner might be prosecuted under section 2(1) if he accompanied her to Switzerland. She said that the failure to … Continue reading Purdy, Regina (on the Application of) v Director of Public Prosecutions and Another: QBD 29 Oct 2008
The couple had decided on a suicide pact. They made repeated attempts, resulting in his death. Property had been held in joint names. The deceased’s father asked the court to apply the 1982 Act to disentitle Miss Plant. Held: The appeal was allowed, and relief against forfeiture was given. Mummery LJ said: ‘the presence of … Continue reading Dunbar (As Administrator of Tony Dunbar Deceased) v Plant: CA 23 Jul 1997
The function of the Director’s office is statutory, and his powers are those laid down. He is not able to excuse possible criminal conduct in advance, and nor could he establish a policy of not applying certain statutory provisions. The Suicide Act . .
Appeal from rejection of claim that section 2(1) of the 1961 infringed the claimant’s human rights. . .
Application for leave to appeal from refusal of declaration of incompatibility of section 2(1) of the 1961 Act with the claimant’s Article 8 human rights. The case concerns the issue of the provision of assistance to a person with a terminal . .
The court was asked as to the issue of provision of assistance to a person with a serious wasting disease who wishes to commit suicide, so as to be able to exercise control over the time of his death as the disease reaches its final stages. Citations: [2017] EWHC 2447 (Admin), [2017] WLR(D) 634 Links: … Continue reading Conway, Regina (on The Application of) v The Secretary of State for Justice: Admn 5 Oct 2017
Application for permission to appeal against the decision of the Divisional Court refusing permission to apply for judicial review to seek a declaration under section 4(2) of the Human Rights Act 1998 that section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961 (‘the 1961 Act’) is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. Judges: McFarlane, Beatson … Continue reading Conway, Regina (on The Application of) v The Secretary of State for Justice: CA 12 Apr 2017
The claimant suffered a debilitating terminal disease. She anticipated going to commit suicide at a clinic in Switzerland, and wanted first a clear policy so that her husband who might accompany her would know whether he might be prosecuted under the 1961 Act. Held: The court considered the Code for Crown prosecutors, and other Guidance … Continue reading Purdy, Regina (on the Application of) v Director of Public Prosecutions and others: CA 19 Feb 2009
The applicant said that the defendant had unlawfully failed to provide detailed guidance under section 10 of the 1985 Act, on the circumstances under which a prosecution might lie of a person performing acts which might assist another to commit suicide. The claimant suffered a severe degenerative illness and anticipated that she would want to … Continue reading Purdy, Regina (on the Application of) v Director of Public Prosecutions and Another: Admn 29 Oct 2008
The claimant had suffered a vicious physical assault from which the claimant’s employers should have protected him, and an incompetently performed surgical operation. Three psychiatrists agreed that the aetiology of the claimant’s very severe . .
The Claimant brought his application for judicial review, seeking a declaration under s.4(2) of the 1998 Act that s.2(1) of the 1961 Act, which maintained the previous position at common law and makes assisting suicide a criminal offence, is . .
Application for leave to appeal after refusal of order allowing withdrawal of his treatment leading to his death within an hour. He wished to argue as to the difference between letting someone die and taking active steps to bring about their death . .
