Legislation regarding Euthanasia.

Piste

I' doing a debate on the legal aspect of Euthanasia and I'm wondering if anyone would know of any resources Icould use. I'd like to find exact Irish legislation regarding Euthanasia, and the legislation in countries where it's legal such as Switzerland and the Netherlands.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

johnnyskeleton

The law on euthanasia comes from the common law - murder. If you end someone else's life intending to end their life, you have murdered them.

dermot_sheehan

Criminal Justice Act 1964
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1964/en/act/pub/0005/index.html

and Criminal Law (Suicide) Act 1993 http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1993/en/act/pub/0011/index.html

Tom Young

OP for your debate you might be interested in case of Pretty v. UK, that is a most interesting judgement on this issue which looks at this from the point of view of Privacy, and the right to die.

You'll also be interested to note that the European Convention of Human Rights Act 2003 (as transposed to Irish law some 50 years after ratification of the convention) and the European Court of Human Rights gives priority to Member States e.g., Ireland, to protect Religious, Moral or national security grounds.

There are some other cases and if you'd like I can post up some more references or pm me.

If you were watching the news on Friday you'll have seen a case called Foy v. The Register for Births, Deaths and Marriages, the judgement in this case by MacKechnie J was that he found that the right to modify sex on birth documentation was incompatible with the Convention.

besty

@ OP, I would imagine that the caselaw Tom Young referred to above and the ECHR element of euthanasia is probably the most interesting aspect of the area and a reference to Pretty V UK would be of central importance to any debate on the issue.

It might also be worth noting the case of Re; A a Ward of Court, a case concerning a former UCD student by the name of Lucy Chamberlain which concerned the patient in a permanent vegetative state being allowed the right to die.

johnnyskeleton

besty wrote: »

It might also be worth noting the case of Re; A a Ward of Court, a case concerning [careful now] which concerned the patient in a permanent vegetative state being allowed the right to die.

Are there reporting restrictions/the in camera rule in place for wardship proceedings?

besty

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

Are there reporting restrictions/the in camera rule in place for wardship proceedings?

This is a centrally important and widely reported judgment of the Supreme Court which can be found here: http://www.bailii.org/ie/cases/IESC/1995/1.html

Piste

Oh cheers for the link Besty I couldn't find anything about her online!

Thanks for all the help everyone's offering!