Key Terms

The debate surrounding assisted suicide and mental health references many different terms that you need to have an understanding of when making your own decision about this topic. 

Here are the most common terms below:

Assisted Suicide (aka physician-assisted suicide): suicide effected with the assistance of another person, especially the taking of lethal drugs provided by a physician knowing their intent.

Voluntary Euthanasia: when a person makes a conscious decision to die and asks for help to do so.

Non-voluntary Euthanasia: when an individual is unable to give their consent to treatment (e.g. in a coma) and another person takes the decision on their behalf.

Depression: a medical illness that negatively affects how you feel on a regular basis.

DIGNITAS: a Swiss non-profit members' society providing assisted/accompanied suicide to those members of the organisation who suffer from terminal illness and/or severe physical and/or mental illnesses.

Legislation: a law or set of laws suggested by a government and made official by a parliament.

Suicide Act (1961): decriminalised the act of suicide in England and Wales so that those who failed in the attempt to kill themselves would no longer be prosecuted. Assisted suicide is illegal under the terms of the Suicide Act (1961) and is punishable by up to 14 years' imprisonment.