Institute for the History of Medicine and Science Studies, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
Health Care Anal. 2013 Jun;21(2):85-104. doi: 10.1007/s10728-011-0191-y.
Guidelines provided by the Director of Public Prosecutions suggest that anyone assisting another to commit suicide in England and Wales, or elsewhere, will not be prosecuted provided there are no self-seeking motives and no active encouragement. This reflects the position in Switzerland. There, however, no difference is made between assistance and inducement. In addition, the Swiss approach makes it possible to establish organisations to assist the suicides of both their citizens and foreign visitors. It should not be assumed that this approach is without controversy in Switzerland. Proposals for reform continue to be debated there, not least because of the concern about some of the actual practices of certain end-of-life organisations. It is likely that a few English citizens will continue to avail themselves of these services in Switzerland if they cannot find the help they require here. This paper explores the legitimacy of the current restrictive position adopted towards assisted suicide in England. It argues that the provisions within the guidelines prohibiting organisations that assist suicides, leaves some without the help they need. While legislative decriminalisation of assisted suicide and the establishment of state-sponsored suicide centres would represent the most permissive regime, this paper proposes that this would be a step too far. The preference here is for decriminalisation but adopting a 'middle way' between the two extremes: the more permissive approach provided by the 'Swiss model' is one that could be employed here, albeit within a more robust regulatory regime.
英国和威尔士以及其他地方的检察总长提供的指导原则表明，只要没有自私的动机，也没有积极的鼓励，任何协助他人在英国和威尔士或其他地方自杀的人都不会被起诉。这反映了瑞士的立场。然而，瑞士并没有对协助和诱导加以区分。此外，瑞士的做法使协助本国公民和外国游客自杀的组织成为可能。不应假设这种方法在瑞士没有争议。那里仍在继续辩论改革提案，尤其是因为担心某些临终关怀组织的一些实际做法。如果在英国找不到所需的帮助，一些英国公民可能会继续在瑞士利用这些服务。本文探讨了目前对英国协助自杀的限制性立场的合法性。它认为，指导方针中禁止协助自杀组织的规定，使得一些人无法获得他们所需的帮助。虽然将协助自杀合法化并建立国家赞助的自杀中心将代表最宽松的制度，但本文认为，这将是一个过于激进的步骤。这里的偏好是合法化，但在两个极端之间采取“中间道路”：“瑞士模式”提供的更宽松的方法可以在这里采用，尽管需要更严格的监管制度。
