The British Legal Framework of Euthanasia - Essay Example

In the UK, assisted – suicide has not been legalized. The statute makes assisted suicide a crime, and no individual, family member or friend of the patient can render such assistance. In 2002, Dianne Pretty, a UK citizen fought tooth and nail with the English courts, including the House of Lords, and the European Court of Human Rights to allow her to be lawfully terminated, on account of her incurable terminal illness, by her husband. She beseeched the courts to let her die with dignity and to allow her husband to administer a lethal injection.

All her efforts proved to be in vain, and she failed to realize her desire to die with dignity. However, in some jurisdictions, assisted suicide and euthanasia have been legalized .2 As a consequence, the physicians who practice euthanasia, in these jurisdictions, are not prosecutedThe Diane Pretty case raised several debates, over the exercise of the right to die by individuals, in the United Kingdom. However, in 2005, the House of Lords directed the authorities of a hospital to discontinue treatment to Oliver Leslie, a patient suffering from a degenerative brain condition.

The General Medical Council had issued orders to discontinue treatment to Oliver Leslie, and this decision was upheld by the House of Lords. This decision revealed the departure of the UK from its original stand. It also raised questions, regarding the legality of the decision taken by the General Medical Council. It had also been contended that the withdrawal of life support systems, such as artificial hydration and nutrition could contravene the provisions of the ECHR3.Although Euthanasia is not legalized in the UK, the courts decide whether life support systems are to be withdrawn.