Should Debbie\'s husband be prosecuted if he helps her die?
 

Its all good and well to debate euthanasia in theory but its always interesting to talk about real life people who want to go down this route.

Across the news today is a story, a woman has multiple sclerosis and plans on going to Switzerland with her husband to die when they feel the time is right. But she wants to know whether he will be prosecuted or not when he returns home but she is getting no answers.

Full story here for those who are interested

So should he be prosecuted when he returns home or is it just wrong in the first place and he should be punished for it?

No, there is never a good enough circumstance for someone to willfully kill another, and there is never a good enough reason why one should kill themselves either.
But we should not be prosecuting people either.
We should be doing everything to put people off this terrible and desperate measure, and selfish act too.

Despite constant pain and endless hours being tired I would never ever wish for an end to see my husband, daughter and family on any day bad or very bad. In fact I would'nt wish to end my life even if I had no family thr friends I have made here would keep me going and fighting for another day just to see you all for one more last time.
Life no matter what is that important, if it wasnt there would be any need for any debate over it.

Its her choice, so long as she allows it then its fine...

That's a very personal point of view though Angie (and I'm not disagreeing with you!) whereas I think that Debbie knows that she is going to reach a stage where she will no longer want to live to see another day, and her husband loves her enough to go through with this decision with her.

I don't think he should be prosecuted if he does help Debbie to commit euthanasia. It was her choice, her freedom of choice, and I don't think it's fair to punish someone for making their loved ones happy for one last time.

Yes absolutely

The law is quite clear on this, assisting someone to commit suicide is a criminal offence punishable by 14 years in prison. Helping her go to Dignitas would be assisting a suicide, thus breaking the law.

The law is the law.

the law sucks

someone is doing someone else a favour by putting them out of their misery if your in that much pain then you should be aloud to die

there was never any law when 2pac was shot >.<

I totally respect your opinion, but of course the life we are talking about here is Debbie's. Personally I don't believe her husband should be prosecuted, as Debbie herself has made this choice. And what benefit would prosecuting him be? Clearly he is no danger to the public - no need to put him behind bars for other people's safety. He will be acting out of love, not hate. I'm not sure if they have children, but certainly I don't see the benefit to ANYONE in prosecuting this man.

The law really needs to be reviewed for such cases.

It would be his example that would be the danger if left unchallenged. That would send out a dangerous message

If it were not for this law, then vulnerable people could be manipulated into commiting suicide, and the killer would claim they did not actually kill them, only assisted in what they wanted to do anyway.

If he helps her go to Dignitas, he must be made an example of, for the sake of others

No I dont think he should Tbh !

I understand what you are saying, and I too have reservations about the law in relation to assisted suicide for the reasons you mention. However, 'making an example' of him is harsh. This is why I think the law needs to be reviewed on this matter - each and every case should be taken on it's own merits. In this instance, it is clear that the wife is still of stable mind and able to make her own decisions. It is an entirely different subject to euthanasia, where other people make the decision (sometimes) over whether someone lives or dies.

Dunno:shrug:

If we left a animal to suffer we would be prosecuted,but we would have to watch a loved one suffer.The law needs to change to help people like Debbie and her husband,he shouldn't have to help her doctors should be able to help her if everyone agree's

OK Debbie aside, if we allow people to do that by law, then its goin to open the floodgates and is open to potential abuse. People will taking their relatives with alzeimhers to switzerland so they can get their greedy mitts on inheritance and so on! forged signatures the lot! "yeh she agreed to it years ago honest guv'nor"

The person has to agree not just a family member.

yeh but that person might not be compus mentus like

In places where it is legal its not actually abused, and the majority of people who want to die don't actually go through with it. Its just about having that option if things get that bad.

I think there should be regulations on it though, e.g. if you want to do it you yourself have to go through the courts to get permission, and if you leave it too late (where you can't speak etc) then really its your own fault. Then let it happen in front of someone legal (e.g. a doctor) so the law know it isn't being abused. I do agree with euthanasia but not the traditional idea.

Oh yeh there would have to be water tight regulations but even then Im not sure its right but I dont really know why I feel that way

A true voice of common sense and humanity.......Thank you......It beggars belief that polititions who spend hours debating at what age the unborn can be legally slaughtered for social convenience but cannot put their bone idle stupid lazy heads together and develop a system of safe gaurds to prevent abuse of a legal assisted suicides including making sure its just not a temporary depression.


Religious believers as per usual are more interested in there religious obsessive dogma than they are interested in preventing human suffering...

There is a very true saying. "WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY"......The evil nature of poltics and religion does not have the will..Which is a disgrace of human behavour....

As for the opinion of those that say there never is justification for someone taking there own life regardless of pain or suffering I have never heard something that is so totaly selfish and ridiculous...... Everyone has different pain and suffering threshholds and that should be repected......Just because someone can tolorate a high level of suffering does not mean all should be made to do so......