What is the current criminal law on deliberate euthanasia in Britain and other European states?
Euthanasia or ‘mercy killing’ is popularly taken to mean the practice of helping severely-ill people to die, either at their request or by taking the decision to withdraw life support. Euthanasia has been ‘decriminalised’ in a number of European countries, namely The Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. Additionally, the US state of Oregon has a ‘Death with Dignity Act’ and Australia the Northern Territories ruling. Dutch led the way As early as 1984, the Dutch Supreme Court declared that ‘voluntary euthanasia’ was ‘acceptable’, and in 2002, the Netherlands became the first EU country to legalise adult euthanasia. ‘Physician-assisted suicide’ is now practiced with increasing openness in the Netherlands. ‘Assisted suicide’ exists in Switzerland; legally condoned, it can be performed by non-physicians. Swiss law clearly decriminalises assisted suicide without the involvement of a doctor; this means that non-physicians can participate in assisted suicide. Though issue remains controversi
