Euthanasia and assisted suicide laws are relaxed

All types of euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal in England under the Suicide Act 1961. Public opinion, however, is divided on these issues and it is legal for doctors to decide to withdraw or withhold treatment if there is no realistic prospect of the treatment producing any benefit.

On the one hand, patients and their families expect life to be prolonged for as long as possible, even if this may mean prolonged suffering without hope of a cure. Many groups (including disability rights groups and religious groups) argue against any relaxation of restrictions on assisted dying, citing the risks of pressure on ill individuals and misrepresentation of the wishes of those powerless to speak.

Others argue that individuals have the right to a dignified death rather than protracted disability. These views are attracting public sympathy, as well as outrage in some cases. With advances in technology prolonging life, the economic and social cost of supporting older people beyond the natural life cycle are increasingly posing questions of morality.

Public and professional attitudes to assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia continue to change. While a 2009 study revealed that 34 per cent of doctors supported the legalisation of euthanasia, there is a trend of euthanasia being deemed acceptable by a greater proportion of medical students (Seale 2009).

The rising cost of healthcare, in absolute terms and also as a proportion of GDP spending, will drive a more financially sensitive healthcare system. There is a growing sense that the quality of extended life needs to play a greater role in ‘end-of-life decision making’. These considerations are becoming increasingly commonplace, and may be expressed to some extend in end-of-life Quality Adjusted Life Year funding planning.

The terminally ill and those suffering from chronic conditions gain increased media attention and have a stronger voice. Crucially, legislation is introduced to reflect changing opinion and for certain situations, euthanasia is legalised, and this may be correlated with a system refocus from cure towards prevention.

A significant number of frail and older people opt for assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia. This leads to a reduction in costly treatments that do not significantly increase quality of life. Efficiencies are therefore created and resources in intensive care units are focussed on other demand sources.