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News items on 'Suicide And Attempted Suicide'
Concerns over right-to-die law
(BBC 15/11/2009)
A Bradford woman who won a court victory to have the law on assisted suicide clarified says she still has concerns. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keir Starmer has published interim guidelines on when prosecutions could occur. The issue has now been put out to public consultation and permanent policy will be published next spring. Ms Purdy said: "He has said he's more likely to prosecute where somebody makes a financial gain but what exactly does he mean by that?
Happy death?
(BBC 05/11/2009)
They were both healthy and enjoying life apart from a few niggling age-related complaints. But knowing that those would eventually become worse made Dennis and Flora Milner decide to kill themselves. After 58 years of life together they decided to die together. Their bodies were found on Sunday morning when close friends went around to their house in Newbury, Berkshire.
Doctors 'forced' to allow suicide
(BBC 01/10/2009)
Doctors were forced to allow a suicidal woman who had swallowed anti-freeze to die, because she refused medical help. Kerrie Wooltorton, 26, of Norwich, had also made a "living will" requesting no intervention if she tried to take her own life, a Norwich inquest heard. Doctors would have risked breaking the law by treating her, the coroner said. The Norwich and Norwich University Hospital said Miss Wooltorton was conscious and doctors were convinced of her mental competence.
Assisted suicide law 'clarified'
(BBC 23/09/2009)
Among the factors which would determine a prosecution are: * Whether a person stands to benefit financially from assisting a suicide or if they were acting out of compassion. *If the individual wanting to die was deemed competent enough and had a "clear and settled" wish to make such a decision. Particular attention would be paid to issues such as being under 18, and having a mental illness. *Whether the person was persuaded or pressured into committing suicide, or if it was their own decision.
Clarity due on assisted suicide
(BBC 23/09/2009)
Guidelines on assisted suicide law in England and Wales will be published later to clarify when people are likely to be prosecuted. It is currently illegal to help someone commit suicide, but as yet no-one has been prosecuted for helping a person go abroad to end their life. The Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer QC has already said it will not mean assisted suicide will become legal. Instead, he wants to set out when individuals are more likely to be prosecuted or not prosecuted.
Australian dies after court win
(BBC 21/09/2009)
An Australian quadriplegic, who last month won the landmark legal right to starve to death, has died. Christian Rossiter, 49, died in a nursing home in Perth, West Australia, after developing a chest infection. A former outdoor adventurer, he had won a legal battle to ask his carers not to give him food or water. His case strengthened advocates of assisted suicide, in the week when Britain's top legal officer is to issue new guidelines on the issue.
New guidance on assisted suicide
(BBC 20/09/2009)
Guidelines on assisted suicide law will be published by the Director of Public Prosecutions this week to clarify when people are likely to be prosecuted. Keir Starmer QC told the BBC factors that would be considered included whether anyone helping in the suicide stood to gain financially. He said assisted suicide would remain an offence as the law was unchanged. Labour minister Ed Balls said he hoped Mr Starmer would "err on the side of being very, very cautious".
'Why I tried to finish off my charmed life'
(The Scotsman 13/09/2009)
What made young, successful Catherine Lucas attempt suicide? She tells all for new campaign. SHE has, she says, lived a charmed existence but one that she wanted to end. Catherine Lucas, a successful Glasgow accountant, is not the most obvious poster girl for Scotland's war on suicide, but she has decided to speak out and be identified after coming close to taking her own life. Lucas, 32, has agreed to help Health Scotland in its campaign against the rising levels of suicide.
Suicide watch
(BBC 10/09/2009)
Hairdressers and taxi drivers are being trained to help spot vulnerable people who might be contemplating taking their own lives in Belfast. A number of job centre workers and Marks and Spencer staff are also being given basic counselling skills in suicide prevention. Those behind the Belfast project believe it could be used in other cities and towns with a suicide problem. During a six-week period in the summer, 30 people took their own lives in Belfast.
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