The assisted dying debate: Charles Falconer and the Observer’s Sonia Sodha tackle the issues

Last week’s launch of a historic private member’s bill set off an impassioned nationwide discourse in the UK. Here, the Observer’s chief leader writer discusses the big talking points with the former lord chancellor

Charles Falconer: The current law has been abandoned. The director of public prosecutions (DPP) will not prosecute those motivated by compassion as long as they are not healthcare professionals, despite the fact they are committing a crime to which they have no defence, with a maximum of 14 years in prison.

This half-law brings unnecessary suffering. People fear death because they cannot control its timing or form, and the medical profession can’t help. People go to Switzerland to die earlier than they want, often alone. Those who cannot afford or do not have the energy to go to Switzerland take steps like hoarding pills to take their own lives, often alone to protect their loved ones.

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The assisted dying debate: Charles Falconer and the Observer’s Sonia Sodha tackle the issues

Topics

Related

The assisted dying debate is about so much more than kindness v conservatism | Sonia Sodha

The lawyer at the heart of the ferocious debate over assisted dying

Proposed assisted dying bill for England and Wales rekindles debate over choice and ethics

Proposed assisted dying bill for England and Wales rekindles debate over choice and ethics

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