Life and death decisions

The landmark ruling in the House of Lords in response to Debbie Purdy's assisted suicide case ordered the director of public prosecutions to clearly state the circumstances in which prosecution would or would not be pursued. At the same time, the RCN adopted a neutral position on the issue of assisted suicide. These events have implications for people with terminal illness, their families and the nurses and doctors who are involved in helping patients make important decisions about their life and death.