BRITAIN ASSISTED SUICIDE

AP News - 712 days ago
BRITAIN ASSISTED SUICIDE
Author Terry Pratchett stands outside the Houses of Parliament, London, after it was announced that new guidelines on assisting suicide will place closer scrutiny on the motivation of the suspect Thursday Feb. 25, 2010. New guidelines published by Britain's top prosecutor Thursday fall short of legalizing assisted suicide but spell out what types of cases are least likely to be prosecuted. Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer said assisted suicide remains a serious offense punishable by up to 14 years in prison, but said prosecution is least likely when the suspect is wholly motivated by compassion. The case for assisted suicide has also been boosted by Pratchett, who suffers from early onset Alzheimer's disease. He advocates the legalization of assisted suicide in some instances. (AP Photo/Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)