News
Campaigners call for tougher laws to protect Stalking Victims
16th May 2012There are currently as many as 120,000 cases of stalking in the UK every year. However, only 2% of the 53,000 cases that are reported to the Police end in criminal convictions. [read more]
Legal Services Board calls for further regulations
15th May 2012Some people may call the United Kingdom a Nanny State, subject to too much red-tape and legislation to understand or to have to consider. However much this may be true in some areas, in the area of will-writing there are calls from professional bodies for further regulation to be put in place to protect consumers. [read more]
Dispute over control
15th May 2012The Court of Appeal has recently given judgment in an anticipated case, providing an important authority on a partys obligation to disclose documents within their control in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR). [read more]
Assisted suicide proposals published
13th January 2012
A recent report by the Commission on Assisted Dying calls for doctors to be allowed to prescribe lethal medicine doses to dying people.
Assisting someone to die is currently punishable by a term of imprisonment under the Suicide Act 1961. A change in the law such as suggested in the report by the Commission on Assisted Dying would prevent the doctor falling foul of this legislation. The report suggests doctors are only allowed to prescribe lethal drug dosages to those who are diagnosed as terminally ill and who have less than 12 months to live. Additionally, the patient would have to be the one to raise the discussion about this with their doctor. The doctor must then consider whether or not they have the mental capacity to make such a large decision, as well as a firm desire to die. The doctor would be required to discuss other options with the patient, before a second doctor confirms the patient's decision. The patient would then be required record their decision in front of independent witnesses. Following this, the report suggests a period of time should be allowed to elapse before the medication is prescribed, to allow time for a change of mind by the patient. It remains to be seen whether the proposals contained in the report are adopted. For more information please complete our Enquiry Form, contact us on 01245 493939 or email privateclient@gepp.co.uk The above is not legal advice; it is intended to provide information of general interest about current legal issues.
