MPs should 'show compassion' in vote on assisted suicide

Today's motion on the application of the law on assisted suicide, care of the backbench business committee, is the first substantial debate on the issue in the House of Commons in over 40 years. If the motion is passed, MPs will have provided welcome support for the Director of Public Prosecutions' (DPP) guidelines, which humanely acknowledge that it is not always in the public interest to prosecute an individual, acting solely out of compassion, for assisting a loved one to die. It will also demonstrate that MPs are in step with public opinion: a YouGov poll in 2010 found that 82 per cent of people believe that the DPP's approach to prosecution is "sensible and humane".

Assisting a suicide is a criminal offence that carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years in England and Wales. As a result of the Law Lords' ruling in Debbie Purdy's case, the DPP issued guidelines in February 2010 listing the public interest factors weighing in favour of and against prosecution for those who help another person to die. The guidelines reiterate that assisting another's death is a crime and that there can be no immunity from prosecution. However, they also recognise the distinction between compassionate amateur assistance to die (such as accompanying a dying loved one to die abroad), that is unlikely to lead to prosecution; and malicious encouragement to die, that will be prosecuted.

Whatever MPs' views on assisted dying and whether dying people should have the choice of a doctor-assisted death at home in Britain, it is difficult to see why MPs would not support this motion. By backing it, MPs will show that they welcome a flexible and compassionate prosecution approach towards those who have acceded to a loved one's "clear and settled" wish to die. It is difficult to see whose interests it would serve to prosecute such people.

Ultimately Dignity in Dying would like to see a change in the law on assisted dying, so that dying people have the choice of a legal assisted death at home in Britain, without needing to ask their loved ones to break the law. However, the DPP's policy has provided many people with some assurance that their loved ones will not be prosecuted, and as a result has improved the quality of many people's end-of-life experience. As Debbie Purdy expressed when she won her case for clarity on the Prosecuting Policy – "I have my life back".

Further stories on the debate on assisted suicide:

Richard Ottaway MPhopes for a 'consensus' on assisted suicide. Read On .

Joan Ruddock MPsupports assisted suicide on compassionate grounds, Read On .

Most politicians are behind the curve on assisted suicide – today they can show they understand public opinion, says the British Humanist Association (BHA). Read On .

The current law on assisted suicide does not need amending because it allows discretion to combine justice with mercy, says Robert Colquhoun of Care Not Killing. Read On .