Assisted suicide
Sunday, December 13, 2009 12:08Suicide or Assisted suicide, is it a crime? The laws for some countries, for assisted suicide are not clearly defined, whereas some have strict laws and rules to pursue. Though it is not mentioned in law code of some countries it does not mean it’s not an offence. There is a myth among people that both suicide and assisted suicide are personal affairs of individual and no laws or criminal code can indulge in between. Many people have been affected with this and have faced many problems. The laws are not revised for suicide and assisted suicide. It says suicide is not a crime but assisted suicide is a crime by some or the other way. Let’s clear the gloom and understand the real view.
Let us study different laws about suicide and assisted suicide for some countries.
Sweden’s crime code has no laws forbidding assisted suicide. Legal proceedings will accuse an assister with unlawful killing. In 1979 Berit Hedeby, the leader for right-to-die, was sentenced to jail for assisting a man to die. While the rules for neighbouring country Norway has special crime code for assisted suicide called as “accessory to murder”. If you prove the situation and give valid reasons for the assisted suicide the court might spare you with negligible punishment. The latest survey says assisted suicide is not a crime and the ratio has given the figures of 5:2.
Christian Sandsdalen, a retired physician in Norway was claimed to be responsible for putting a woman to death in year 2000. A woman who was seriously ill for 20years begged for assistance and wanted to get rid of this illness was helped by the physician by giving an excess dose of morphine. He had to pay his medical license for assisting the woman for her peace but he was spared from being sent to jail. He filled a case to the Supreme Court but it didn’t prove fruitful. He passed away at the age of 82 his memorial holds dignity with Norwegians. He holds great respect by people who believe in killing person painlessly.
Finland has no specific laws and code for assisted suicide. An assister will enlighten officials and powers about the assistance during suicide and will justify his deeds in helping and if he proves himself innocent he is safe. Assistance is mostly provided to friends and relatives. The laws for doctors in Finland for practicing killing painlessly to the patient who has incurable disease and assisted suicide are different. But specifically no case till now has been brought to notice.
Since 1751, Germany has no Specific Criminal code or penalty for assisted suicide and suicide. But it still believes euthanasia is an offence and should be restricted. Nazi and modern church believers believe excess practising of direct killing should be restricted. A German appeal court convicted a Swiss clergyman for bringing the drugs to the country but not for assisted suicide as no particular law mentioned assisted suicide as a crime. No punishment was given for the act.
Further, France also has no particular rules prohibiting assistance in suicide. But law under 223-6 Of the Penal Code proves a man guilty for failure in assisted suicide. Only few are found guilty and minor punishments are given. All the publications on suicide assistance are restricted.
Highlights of the report filed at Council of Europe are mentioned below:
a. Assisted suicide and euthanasia has no law to convict the person if it proves that person has wished to end his life because of pain and illness.
b. No laws prove euthanasia as an offence and no doctors or physician are claimed to be guilty or inconsiderate of human importance and their life.
c. Members and associate of Government of council of Europe are asked to evaluate and analyze the reason about suicide. All necessary facts and data are collected and researched about end-of-life decisions. It helps in encouraging public discussions and evaluates different analysis given by the public adhering to the rules and laws framed by council of Europe. It also brings to the notice whether euthanasia is a crime or a help under the criminal code.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
