R (on the application of Purdy) v Director of Public Prosecutions

[2009] LS Law Med 479

HOUSE OF LORDS

Before Lord PHILLIPS of Worth Matravers, Lord HOPE of Craighead, Baroness HALE of Richmond, Lord BROWN of Eaton-under-Heywood, and Lord NEUBERGER of Abbotsbury

Judicial Review — Aiding and abetting suicide — Suicide Act 1961 section 2(4) — Discretion of Director of Public Prosecutions — Interference with right to private life — Necessity for interference to be “in accordance with law” — Accessibility and foreseeability of law on assisted suicide — Need for offence-specific policy for aiding and abetting suicide