Britain’s top prosecutor clarifies assisted suicide rules
Family members who choose to actively assist in the deaths of their terminally-ill loved ones will run the risk of being prosecuted under British law. The announcement came from Keir Starmer QC, England’s top prosecutor, following the publication of new guidelines clarifying the rules on assisted suicide. The most notable differences are that the condition of the victim and the suspect’s status as a family member will no longer be considered mitigating factors against prosecution, though the guidelines still leave room to avoid indictment. Starmer’s decision follows a consultation with nearly 5000 Britons, which he called “the “most extensive snapshot of public opinion on assisted suicide since the 1961 Suicide Act was passed.”