Wasn't it Dr Johnson who said that imminence of death is a salutary experience as it concentrates the mind so?

I have no opinion based contribution to this thread but have been involved in the legal mess that followed an assisted suicide by a GP, both whilst the police were seeing if CPS felt there was a case to answer and later in the GMC fitness to practice hearing. (UK.)

This led to being asked to sit on a think tank following attempts by MPs to bring this issue up. Michael's experience, being one that became public, was a case we used to look at the present legal, possible future legal and more importantly, support infrastructure for people in their situation and resolve. There are of course others, but his stuck in my mind as I knew of his name if nothing else.

The one area we did manage to tighten though was the thorny issue of DNACPR (do not resuscitate.) In that respect, the wishes of someone who wishes to die are legally respected by healthcare professionals, and the latest prescription form has far more safeguards to consider than before.

I went into such debate with an open mind and left it having formed no overall view to support or deny encouragement of suicide. I just know that it is a one way decision and not everybody has full mental capacity when making that decision, which means you have to ensure safeguards for those people don't fetter the wishes of people making decisions by a more rational thought process.

In terms of suicide overall, there is a hangover from superstitious times regarding the legality and therefore social stigma, especially for those left behind. So whilst I cannot form a view concerning something I don't understand, I would certainly encourage debate and removing the social taboos surrounding it.