'Thou Shalt Not Kill; But Needst Not Strive Officiously to Keep Alive': Further Clarification of the Law regarding Mercy Killing, Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

摘要

Opening the judgment of the Court of Appeal Lord Dyson MR perspicuously illustrated the issues at the heart of the present case: These appeals concern individuals who suffer from permanent and catastrophic physical disabilities. They are of sound mind and acutely conscious of their predicament. They do not want to suffer a painful and undignified process of dying. They wish to die at a time of their choosing. However they are not physically capable of ending their own lives unaided, (at [1]).