Britain to clarify the law on assisted suicide: report

Sep 20, 2009, 13:50 GMT

London - New guidance is expected to be published in Britain this week on the controversial issue of assisted suicide, the BBC reported Sunday.

The clarification of the application of the law will be published by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Stamer.

He told the BBC that assisted suicide would remain an offence, but there would be further factors considered, including whether anyone helping with the suicide stood to gain financially.

The guidance is expected Wednesday, and comes after a long fight by a multiple sclerosis sufferer, Debbie Purdy, who had argued by the British High Court that her husband had a right to know if he would be prosecuted if he helped her travel abroad to commit suicide.

'What we're doing this week is to clarify when individuals are more likely to be prosecuted or more unlikely to be prosecuted,' Stamer said.

He said other factors would include whether the person had a clear and settled intention to commit suicide and whether they had been encouraged or just assisted to do so.

It is estimated as many as 115 people from the UK with terminal or incurable illnesses have gone to the Swiss centre Dignitas to die.