Assisted Suicide Laws Not Clarified
by Debbie Purdy suffers from multiple sclerosis, but if her partner helps her travel abroad to attend an assisted suicide clinic, he could be prosecuted. Shaun Dykes, 17, was encouraged to jump 60 feet to his death by onlookers one of whom shouted “How far can you bounce?”. Shaun jumped and died immediately on impact. Those who shouted at this child were said by police to have been committing no offence.
The Case of Debbie Purdy
Today, lawyers for Debbie Purdy argued that the Director of Public Prosecutions breached her rights under Article 8 under the European Convention of Human Rights. They wanted clarification from senior judges in the High Court on matters related to the law on assisted suicides. Ms Purdy suffers from multiple sclerosis and has decided that there could come a time when she would like to end her life at an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland. She wanted assurances that her partner would not be prosecuted if he helped her travel from Britain to Switzerland.
But Debbie Purdy was denied any such clarification by two senior judges in the High Court today.
The Case of Shaun Dykes
On 30th September 2008, Shaun Dykes, a child of 17 ended his life by jumping off the roof of a multi-storey car-park in the centre of Derby, England. Police negotiators had been speaking to him for three hours but failed to stop him from taking his own life.
Shaun’s death took place on a Saturday afternoon and a 300 strong crowd gathered to watch. Some of the crowd hurled abuse at Shaun, encouraged him to jump and filmed it on their mobiles. One teenager was reported to shout “How far can you bounce?”
After the incident police said that none of those who shouted at him had committed an offence.
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Post Commentanonymous
On October 29, 2008 at 11:12 am
You did well to compare both cases. Of course Debbie’s partner shouldn’t be prosecuted if he ever has to assist her with her wishes. He should be left to grieve and remember her in better times. And of course, the teenagers who taunted that poor boy should have had some action taken against them. I’m not sure if the action should be legal however – more educational. I believe that one day, all those involved in this detestable behaviour will be visited by massive amounts of guilt, sorrow and the horror of realisation. That’s when their punishment will start.