The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been accused of endangering vulnerable people with proposals to make prosecutions for so-called mercy killings less likely. But new proposals state that a prosecution should be less likely if it is believed a suspect was “wholly motivated by compassion”. The factors include whether the victim “had reached a voluntary, settled and informed decision to end their life” and whether the suspect “was wholly motivated by compassion”. Others include whether the suspect fully assisted the police or was part of a ‘suicide pact’ with the victim. And in Scotland, Liam McArthur MSP is also pressing ahead with his plan to legalise assisted suicide.

Source: The Times January 21, 2022 13:50 UTC