Many religious organisations, disability rights groups and those within the medical profession believe an assisted dying law may be open to exploitation. However Jill Crawford, who lost her dad Derek to dementia in 2019, is someone who wants to see the conversation around assisted dying begin in Northern Ireland. The group commissioned a poll in August, which said 67% of people support an assisted dying law to some degree in Northern Ireland. Assisted dying is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland meaning it is up to elected politicians if they want to change the law. The Suicide Act 1961 makes it illegal to encourage or assist a suicide in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 24, 2024 13:50 UTC