VIDEO: Debbie Purdy wins 'assisted suicide' clarification (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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DPP announces guidelines over possible prosecution
11:45am Wednesday 23rd September 2009 in News By James Rush
Relatives of people who commit suicide will not face prosecution if they do not maliciously encourage them and assist only a “clear settled and informed wish”, the Director of Public Prosecutions has announced today.
Debbie Purdy talks about her fight for the rights of people wanting to commit assisted suicide
Keir Starmer QC has outlined guidance to make it easier for those helping someone commit assisted suicide to know if they will face prosecution.
Today’s announcement came after the Law Lords backed Bradford multiple sclerosis sufferer Debbie Purdy’s call for a policy statement on whether people who help someone commit suicide should be prosecuted.
Mr Starmer said: “There are no guarantees against prosecution and it is my job to ensure that the most vulnerable people are protected while at the same time giving enough informa-tion to those people like Miss Purdy who want to be able to make informed decisions about what actions they may choose to take.
“Assisting suicide has been a criminal offence for nearly 50 years and my interim policy does nothing to change that.”
More than 100 Britons have ended their lives at the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland, but, until now, friends or relatives who accompany them have not known if they will face prosecution.
Today's clarification is intended to make it much easier for people to know if they will be prosecuted or not.
Mr Starmer said the policy guidelines would become effective from today.
The medical profession will also be bound by the rules, he added.
Ms Purdy welcomed the new clarifications.
She said: "They seem great because it gives confidence to people like me that we cannot make a decision immediately and he actually says that he wants people to have explored alternatives, that he wants to make sure that other forms of treatment have been considered before this decision is made."
She said having such a clarification would allow people to leave it longer before making a decision to end their lives.
Comments(20)
Iona Cortina
says...
1:06pm Wed 23 Sep 09
albion
says...
1:26pm Wed 23 Sep 09
Iona Cortina wrote:Drivel.
Does Ms. Ourdy know what will happen to her after she passes from this world? - does she think she'll be in bliss? - she might be. On the other hand, she might not. She still has time to reflect on her belief (if she has one).
Iona Cortina
says...
3:28pm Wed 23 Sep 09
albion wrote:It won't be 'drivel' when you pass on, albion. You've also got time to reflect on what's going to happen after you breathe your last. There's still time.
Iona Cortina wrote:Drivel.
Does Ms. Ourdy know what will happen to her after she passes from this world? - does she think she'll be in bliss? - she might be. On the other hand, she might not. She still has time to reflect on her belief (if she has one).
albion
says...
4:17pm Wed 23 Sep 09
Iona Cortina wrote:As my age and health mean i am much nearer to my final day than my first one you let me worry about that.
albion wrote:It won't be 'drivel' when you pass on, albion. You've also got time to reflect on what's going to happen after you breathe your last. There's still time.
Iona Cortina wrote:Drivel.
Does Ms. Ourdy know what will happen to her after she passes from this world? - does she think she'll be in bliss? - she might be. On the other hand, she might not. She still has time to reflect on her belief (if she has one).
stansfairy
says...
4:18pm Wed 23 Sep 09
Iona Cortina wrote:why would that matetr anyway , she will be dead ! who knows whats going to happen after you die ? do you iona cortina?
Does Ms. Ourdy know what will happen to her after she passes from this world? - does she think she'll be in bliss? - she might be. On the other hand, she might not. She still has time to reflect on her belief (if she has one).
as far as i know no ones come back from the dead to tell us how it is on the other side ! !!!
let the woman go in peace, which ever way it happens !
God bless you Debbie
albion
says...
4:44pm Wed 23 Sep 09
stansfairy wrote:But will he?
Iona Cortina wrote:why would that matetr anyway , she will be dead ! who knows whats going to happen after you die ? do you iona cortina?
Does Ms. Ourdy know what will happen to her after she passes from this world? - does she think she'll be in bliss? - she might be. On the other hand, she might not. She still has time to reflect on her belief (if she has one).
as far as i know no ones come back from the dead to tell us how it is on the other side ! !!!
let the woman go in peace, which ever way it happens !
God bless you Debbie
stansfairy
says...
5:50pm Wed 23 Sep 09
Rambo
says...
9:00pm Wed 23 Sep 09
Iona Cortina
says...
10:07pm Wed 23 Sep 09
Rambo wrote:And if the religious folk are right in what they say ? you'll only have yourself to blame if you're wrong...
Urrrgh. Religious people and their vague automated responses, a defence mechanism to any awkward situation.
Rambo
says...
12:16am Thu 24 Sep 09
c/pot
says...
8:42am Thu 24 Sep 09
Iona Cortina
says...
8:57am Thu 24 Sep 09
Rambo wrote:To deny the Creator (who created you via your parents), who nourished you whilst you were in your mother's womb, who gave you a mind and soul - surely not thanking Him for all that, can't be right, Rambo ?
What am I to blame for? Im a good clean person, Im not a rapist, child molester or mass murderer. But no, non-belief is a bigger crime.
Cakeface
says...
9:19am Thu 24 Sep 09
Cat In The Hatt
says...
9:52am Thu 24 Sep 09
albion
says...
10:25am Thu 24 Sep 09
Iona Cortina wrote:I deny the creator! now shut up with your superstitious nonsense.
Rambo wrote:To deny the Creator (who created you via your parents), who nourished you whilst you were in your mother's womb, who gave you a mind and soul - surely not thanking Him for all that, can't be right, Rambo ?
What am I to blame for? Im a good clean person, Im not a rapist, child molester or mass murderer. But no, non-belief is a bigger crime.
c/pot
says...
10:59am Thu 24 Sep 09
Iona Cortina wrote:If there was such a thing as a creator why would that thing create you?Iona you should be under a Cortina.
Rambo wrote: What am I to blame for? Im a good clean person, Im not a rapist, child molester or mass murderer. But no, non-belief is a bigger crime.To deny the Creator (who created you via your parents), who nourished you whilst you were in your mother's womb, who gave you a mind and soul - surely not thanking Him for all that, can't be right, Rambo ?
Rambo
says...
12:05pm Thu 24 Sep 09
Cakeface wrote:Nothing is over, NOTHING!
Rambo, are you still reading me? Company leader to Raven! Rambo! Acknowledge!
Back there I could fly a gunship, I could drive a tank, I was in charge of million dollar equipment, back here I can't even hold a job PARKING CARS!
As for the Jesus/God thing, who knows, he might appear in the next piece of toast I have.
Cakeface
says...
12:08pm Thu 24 Sep 09
Rambo wrote:Fantastic!
Cakeface wrote: Rambo, are you still reading me? Company leader to Raven! Rambo! Acknowledge!Nothing is over, NOTHING! Back there I could fly a gunship, I could drive a tank, I was in charge of million dollar equipment, back here I can't even hold a job PARKING CARS! As for the Jesus/God thing, who knows, he might appear in the next piece of toast I have.
FYi -
http://www.tunguz.co
m/Writing/Rambo_Gosp
el.html
ms walker
says...
6:59pm Thu 24 Sep 09
I'm delighted that Ms Purdy will be able to seek a painfree and dignified exit from the world, with the husband that she loves at her side, when she feels that the time is right for her.
Congratulations, best wishes and well done to Ms Purdy and her husband.
Iona Cortina says...
1:05pm Wed 23 Sep 09