The Law Lords’  decision in Debbie Purdy’s case is very bad news for disabled or depressed people. All five Law Lords decided that British law has breached Debbie Purdy’s right to privacy, and that she can compel the Director of Public Prosecutions to publish the criteria on which he will decide whether to prosecute those who take someone to commit suicide in a country where this is not against the law. The judgement did not give a guarantee against Debbie Purdy’s husband being prosecuted.

It was mentioned in the judgement that the only other case where it was illegal to assist in an act which was not itself illegal was the case of female genital mutilation. In theory this decision does not change the law, merely insists that it be clarified, but pro-euthanasiasts are delighted by this thin edge of the wedge. Of course if it is declared that in practice terminally ill or permanently disabled people who are mentally capable can get help to commit suicide abroad, the next step will be to argue that many people are physically or financially unable to travel, and that assisted suicide should be allowed here. Debbie Purdy is one of a tiny number of determined people who might become unable to commit suicide unaided when they wish. However sympathetic one may be to these few, there are enormous numbers who would be put at risk by a change in the law. Groups representing disabled people, in Britain and throughout the world, are strongly opposed to legalising any form of assisted suicide or euthanasia.

The House of Lords recently rejected a change in the law, mainly on the ground that lawyers and doctors have pointed out that it cannot be done safely, that terms such as “terminally ill” are impossible to define, and that alleged “safeguards” suggested are quite inadequate.

As regards people going to Switzerland to help their relations kill themselves, the argument may become irrelevant, since the Swiss are restricting their law, which was never intended to cover the large-scale business run by the fanatically pro-suicide Minelli at Dignitas.

The DPP will issue interim guidelines in September, but will consult widely about permanent rules. As we know from the experience of countries like the Netherlands, supposedly “strict” guidelines can be routinely breached. It is vital that the public gets proper information on the dangers of relaxing the law.