Assisted Suicide — The European Approach

Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands appear to be the only European nations where assisted suicide will not be prosecuted as a crime.  Thus, people who wish assistance in self-termination will travel to these countries.

A recent case has brought this issue once again into public view as reported in UK couple defend son’s assisted suicide at Swiss clinic, CNN.com, Oct. 19, 2008:

• Daniel James, an English citizen, was paralyzed from the chest down as the result of a rugby accident.
• Daniel’s parents explained that he had unsuccessfully tried to kill himself on several occasions.
• Daniel traveled to Switzerland where he died on September 12, 2008.
• Daniel is believed to be the youngest person to go to Switzerland for help in committing suicide.
• British authorities (the Worcestershire Coroner’s Service) are investigating the circumstances of his death because assisted suicide is illegal in the United Kingdom.