Sudden Death

Question 1

section 2 of the Suicide Act 1961

Answer 1

“A person commits an offence under section 2 of the Suicide Act 1961 if he or she does an act capable of encouraging or assisting the suicide or attempted suicide of another person, and that act was intended to encourage or assist suicide or an attempt at suicide.”

Question 2

What is the punishment for assisting suicide?

Answer 2

The offence of encouraging or assisting suicide carries a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment. This reflects the seriousness of the offence.

Question 3

ABCDE

Answer 3

Appearance – and atmosphere: what you see first, including physical problems such as bleeding.
Behaviour – what individuals are doing, and if this is appropriate behaviour given the situation.
Communication – what individuals say and how they say it.
Danger – whether individuals are in danger and whether their actions put other people in danger.
Environment – where they are situated, whether anyone else is there and what impact the wider circumstances may have on the individual’s health and safety.