On 23rd September 2009 the Director of Public Prosecutions in the UK published the ‘Interim Policy for Prosecutors in Respect of Cases of Assisted Suicide’. The publication of this interim report is the result of a law Lords ruling in the case of Debbie Purdy, a 46 year old sufferer of MS (Multiple Sclerosis). She argued that, in order to make a decision about whether to ask her husband to assist her in a possible suicide attempt – in the event of a dramatic drop in her quality of life due to her illness – she should be able to access clear guidelines about how the decision to prosecute her husband (or not) would be made.

The Director of Public Prosecutions Kier Starmer QC has launched a public consultation encouraging people to download the document from the Crown Prosecution website. The document outlines the factors that are taken into account when deciding whether to prosecute or not, and contains a short questionnaire relating to the information given. Seven consultation criteria are outlined as set out by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (DBIS), including time scales and targeting goals. Replies can be sent by e-mail or post, and there is an assistance service offering clarifications if needed.

As promised the document is written in plain English, concise and easy to read and understand, with the aim of involving as many members of the public as possible in the consultation process.

Mr. Starmer states that all responses will be studied and taken into account in the drafting of the final document that should be published in the spring of next year.

Due to the delicate nature of the argument the publication has received international press and widespread internet coverage from various interest groups. An interesting piece of public participation in policy-making that I hope will be taken up on mass.

(photo: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder – by binaryCoco from Flickr)