The Briefing Room What can the UK learn from other countries about assisted dying?
Dec 14, 2023
Legalizing assisted dying in the UK is debated by experts from Oxford University and Erasmus University in Rotterdam. They discuss distinctions between euthanasia and assisted suicide, the role of the Director of Public Prosecutions, evolving views of medical professionals, public attitudes, eligibility criteria, and lessons from the Netherlands on transparency and autonomy.
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Assisted Dying Definition
- Assisted dying is a broad term encompassing various ways to end life.
- It includes assisted suicide (self-administered) and euthanasia (administered by someone else).
UK Legality
- Euthanasia is illegal in the UK and considered murder if a doctor intentionally ends a patient's life.
- Assisted suicide is also illegal, though suicide itself is not a crime.
Permitted Actions
- Patients in the UK can refuse treatment, including nutrition and hydration, allowing the underlying condition to take its course.
- Doctors can also withdraw futile treatment, even for incompetent patients.