Proposals to introduce a Tribunal for Assisted Suicide in the UK

Abstract

It is time that Parliament took the brave and audacious move to publically debate legalising assisted suicide in the UK. Even though a Private Members Bill has recently been introduced in Parliament, it has little hope of success without Government backing. The continual underlying objection of the fear of the slippery slope and the effect of legalising assisted suicide would have on the elderly and the vulnerable is a justifiable one; however, the patient’s autonomy must be respected and it will be argued it is possible to legislate in favour of assisted suicide whilst protecting the vulnerable. It will be argued that the introduction of a Tribunal style system to speedily and sympathetically consider each and every patient’s plea to end their lives should be introduced. This would enable a panel, comprising representatives from both the judiciary and the medical profession an opportunity to assess each case on its merits. It would seek to confirm whether the patient has a terminal condition from which they will die within 9-12 months and each patient will be given a cooling off period to explore options of palliative care. Each case will be recorded and each death reported. The Panel will ensure that the patient is not being unduly pressurised and the person who will assist has nothing to gain. Each case will be closely monitored and each patient treated as an individual. Society should temper paternalism with respect for a patient’s autonomy in order to end the imbalance between the right of a patient to refuse medical treatment where they will surely die as a result and the lack of respect for the self determination of a patient who is clear they wish to end their life