Assisted suicide – FAQs
Back to Topic
Click to Print
Useful Websites
Glossary Term Selection
What is ‘assisted dying’?
The term ‘assisted dying’ has no meaning in English law. It is a euphemism used by campaigners for legal change. It can mean either physician-assisted suicide or physician-administered euthanasia. At the time of writing, the term ‘assisted dying’ is being used by campaigners for legalisation in England and Wales as meaning physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill people.
What do physician-assisted suicide and physician-administered euthanasia involve?
Physician-assisted suicide (PAS) would allow a doctor to prescribe or supply lethal drugs to a requesting patient in the knowledge and with the intention that those drugs would be used by the patient to end his or her life. Physician-administered euthanasia (PAE) would allow a doctor, at the request of a patient, to administer lethal drugs to that patient with the intention of ending the patient’s life.
What is the law in regard to assisted suicide?
It is a criminal offence in England and Wales, under S...
Want to see the rest of this article?
Would you like to see the rest of this article and all the other benefits that Issues Online can provide with?
- Useful related articles
- Video and multimedia references
- Statistical information and reference material
- Glossary of terms
- Key Facts and figures
- Related assignments
- Resource material and websites
