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Keir Starmer, one of those responsible for the prosecution, released guidelines requiring when a person can be prosecuted for aiding and abetting the suicide of a relative.

Starmer stressed, however, that the Assisted suicide remains illegal in Britain and in any case there were assurances that there would be persecuted. My job is to make sure vulnerable people are protected, he said.

The #39; Law Lords #39 – the highest court in the land – called in July clarification from the attorney after reviewing the appeal brought by Debbie Purdy, a British woman who suffers from multiple sclerosis that is considering traveling to Switzerland to end his days.

The new directives stipulate that public interest is not to prosecute someone if the deceased has expressed a desire clear, definitive and informed of committing suicide, suffers from an incurable disease or dying and asked for help on their own initiative.

The person assisting must be entirely motivated by compassion, being a relative or close friend and participation should be limited to aid or minor influence.

However, it is more likely to be a prosecution if the deceased is a minor, if your judgment seems diminished, if not clearly expressed desire to end his days and may have been subjected pressure. Purdy pleaded relieved to have prevailed common sense.

We want to know if someone we will be prosecuted for helping us to die, even if the aid is solely to be present beside us in the end, he said. Today (…) we can make these decisions knowing what the likely consequences.

After losing several appeals, Purdy turned to the Law Lords to see if her husband, Cuban violinist Omar Puente, would be pursued by the law if he helped her travel to Switzerland, where assisted suicide is legal to receive euthanasia. According to a 1961 law, assisted suicide is illegal in England and Wales, and can carry a penalty of 14 years in prison.