English rugby player Daniel James was paralyzed from the chest down during a practice match in 2007. James traveled to Switzerland with his family and died in an assisted suicide. Switzerland is one of four European countries that does not consider assisted suicide a crime.CNN: UK parents may be charged over assisted suicide (October 23, 2008) Police in the UK are considering pressing criminal charges against James' parents, Julie and Mark James.Mail Online: We Had to Help Our Paralysed Son Die... (October 20, 2008)
European Suicide Laws
- Britain passed the "Suicide Act" in 1961, making suicide illegalMail Online: We Had to Help Our Paralysed Son Die... (October 20, 2008)
- In the U.K., Anyone who "aids, abets, councils or procures the suicide of another" can face 14 years in prisonMail Online: We Had to Help Our Paralysed Son Die... (October 20, 2008)
- Assisted suicide is not prosecutable in Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands CNN: UK parents may be charged over assisted suicide (October 23, 2008)
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Spent eight months in the hospital, had numerous operation to fuse his vertebrae, had limited use of fingersMail Online: We Had to Help Our Paralysed Son Die... (October 20, 2008)
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British prosecutors considering pressing charges against James' parents
