ABSTRACT
Assisted suicide and euthanasia are highly topical and controversial areas of bioethics that raise fundamental questions about our society. The ethics of assisted suicide and euthanasia focus on a person self-determination to decide for themselves when to end their life. There is an important distinction to be drawn between the principle of double effect and euthanasia as sometimes the two are confused. Double effect describes a situation in which a patient is given drugs solely for pain relief purposes. The guidelines focus on the motivation of the person who is suspected of encouraging or assisting an assisted suicide. The Assisted Dying Bill 2013 was introduced by Lord Falconer in the House of Lords. Its principles focuses upon the Death with Dignity Act in Oregon, USA rather than some European countries that permit assisted suicide. It argues that assisted suicide should not be permitted for fear of the ' slippery slope '.
