Forfeiture Rule decision

Under Section 3 of this website – “The Law “ – we have covered the 2019 case of Ninian vs Findlay & others.   The case concerned the application of the “Forfeiture Rule” under which no one who has assisted the death of another person can inherit anything from their estate.   The Court had ruled that,… Continue reading Forfeiture Rule decision

Probate delays

In the case of Ninian vs Findlay in 2019, the Court ruled that Sarah Ninian could indeed inherit her husband’s £1.8 million estate, even though she had planned their visit to Dignitas and had accompanied him on their trip.   This meant that the Court had used its discretion and decided that the “Forfeiture Rule” should… Continue reading Probate delays

The Leadbeater Bill

The decision by Kim Leadbeater MP to choose Assisted Dying as the subject for her Private Member’s Bill is good news.   She came top of the recent MPs’ ballot and her Bill is therefore assured of such Parliamentary time as it may need.   It will now also receive priority over the other two Bills currently… Continue reading The Leadbeater Bill

Canada – refuting the myths

At the recent Dublin international conference on Assisted Dying, it was notable that Professor Jocelyn Downie from Canada interrupted her presentation in order to refute some of the “slippery slope” myths that have sprung up around  her country’s adoption of Medical Assistance in Dying. Access to MAID is limited to people of 18 years and… Continue reading Canada – refuting the myths

Sarco used in Switzerland

The BBC is reporting that the Sarco suicide pod has now been used for the first time.   Unsurprisingly, arrests have been made. Although its use has been planned well in advance, the actual occasion seems to have come as a bit of a shock.   At a press conference earlier this month, Fiona Stewart of The… Continue reading Sarco used in Switzerland

Palliative Care – MPs’ letters

“I also intend to advocate in Parliament for increased investment into palliative and end of life care ….”.   If that sentence sounds familiar, it is because it is usually included in letters from Labour MPs who want to sound friendly but also want to remain non-committal in respect of the forthcoming Bills on Assisted Dying.  … Continue reading Palliative Care – MPs’ letters

Dignity in Dying – facing a choice

It will have seemed ironic to many members of Dignity in Dying that the booklet encouraging them to support Lord Falconer’s Bill should have landed on their doormats on the same day as another Bill had emanated from the Private Members’ ballot in the House of Commons.   The latter has a much greater chance of… Continue reading Dignity in Dying – facing a choice

The ballot for Private Members’ Bills

The results are now in for the ballot for Private Members’ Bills in the House of Commons.   They are not quite as encouraging as might have been hoped. One MP, Jake Richards (Labour, Rother Valley), was first off the starting blocks with his announcement that he would indeed be introducing a Bill to legalise Assisted… Continue reading The ballot for Private Members’ Bills

Sarco – update

The Sarco will not be operated in Switzerland either by Pegasos or by EXIT.   Instead, it will be managed by an operator called “The Last Resort”.   This new collective, run by lawyers Florian Willet and Fiona Stewart, is an offshoot of EXIT International. It has not yet been used for the first time.   A new… Continue reading Sarco – update

Sean Davison – latest news

Sean Davison was arrested in early July and remains on “Police Bail”.   That means he has not yet been charged with any offence but must “surrender” to his police station, probably for further questioning, on the 15th October.   His potential charge would be that of Assisting or Encouraging a Suicide under the terms of the… Continue reading Sean Davison – latest news

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