Legal

Assisted dying laws would need ‘significant’ safeguards - Department of Justice

It is currently an offence for a person to aid, abet, counsel or procure the suicide of another person, with a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment

  • June 13, 2023
The Department of Justice’s says “fundamental rights lie at the heart of this difficult issue”. Picture: Getty Images

Any move to legislate for assisted dying would require protections and safeguards against inducement, incitement and pressure, the first public hearing of the joint committee on the matter has been told.

The committee was formed to consider and make recommendations for legislative and policy change relating to statutory rights to assist a person to end their life and to receive such assistance.

While the Criminal Law (Suicide) Act of 1993 decriminalised suicide itself, the offence ...