Assisted suicide under the European Convention on Human Rights: a critique.
In a high profile case, a terminally ill woman, Diane Pretty, challenged the United Kingdom prohibition on assisted suicide as incompatible with certain fundamental rights which are guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights. Mrs Pretty's battle was ultimately unsuccessful, with a total of three courts and 15 judges ruling against her. Such unanimity of opinion might well be thought to represent the coup de grace for arguments about the right to assistance in death under European human rights law. However, in this article it is suggested that, in limited circumstances, such assistance might yet still be possible under the Constitution.
Morris
Dan
D
Institute of Medicine, Law and Bioethics, University of Liverpool, UK.
D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005610:Freedom; D006806:Human Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D018907:Privacy; D012297:Right to Die / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D017236:Suicide, Assisted / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006113:United Kingdom; D026712:Value of Life