Today, Monday 2nd November, is World Right To Die Day. Not many people know that. It is, apparently, the 18th such day because the first was in 2008. It is the creation of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies. The date was chosen deliberately because it “coincides with traditional cultural reflections on mortality”… Continue reading World Right To Die Day
News that Christa Pike, the woman who was due to be executed in Tennessee, had survived her lethal injection will have caused alarm among the many people who are considering a visit to Switzerland to bring their lives to a peaceful end. Not enough is yet known to establish clearly how such a disaster could… Continue reading Christa Pike – what happened ?
Today’s defeat, by 286 votes to 270, in the British House of Commons means that Assisted Dying will remain illegal in England and Wales, at least until 2030 and probably well beyond. Certainly, there will be no attempt to revive this twice-defeated legislation until after the next General Election (expected in 2029) and, even then,… Continue reading Where now for Assisted Dying UK ?
When Frances Jordan was diagnosed with dementia in 2014, her family home was sold. The proceeds, together with her savings and small pension, were used to pay for her care. When she died earlier this year £250,000 had been spent on care fees. Very little was left. This story, covered in last week’s Sunday Times,… Continue reading Are inheritances falling ?
If you die in the first half of a tax year your executors can usually expect to receive a substantial tax refund. The reason is simple. A whole year’s basic tax-free allowance will be allowable in full against any income you have already received. Also, your tax coding will have been based upon the assumption… Continue reading UK tax refunds are now taxable !
David Peace died at Dignitas in December 2021. He was accompanied to Switzerland by his friend Timothy Murphy. Mr Murphy was a major beneficiary of David Peace’s Will and had also received, before they travelled, a substantial Scottish Widows insurance policy from him. There were three other beneficiaries under the Will. The Executor of the… Continue reading Forfeiture Rule – an unreported case
It looks as though the French Government really is going to legalise Assisted Dying. The National Assembly voted to do so by 291 votes to 241 on the 15th July. This is the fourth time the National Assembly has passed such a vote. On each of the previous three occasions, the Senate has then blocked… Continue reading France proceeds to legalise Assisted Dying
Keir Starmer was strongly in favour of last year’s Assisted Dying Bill. Andy Burnham is not. People have assumed that, because of his Catholic family background, the new Prime Minister would automatically be opposed. He is opposed but not because of his Catholicism. He simply feels that the existing laws should not be changed until… Continue reading New PM has a different view of Assisted Dying
Just when we thought the match was over, the home team have scored a goal in extra time. To some surprise, campaigners in favour legalising Assisted Dying in England and Wales have persuaded another MP to re-present last year’s Bill. It was generally considered to have failed after it was “talked out” by the House… Continue reading The Assisted Dying Bill returns
The figures coming out of the Kenneth Law case in Toronto, are little short of astonishing. Mr Law, 60, has pleaded guilty to sending 1,200 lethal packages to people in 41 separate countries. 330 of these were sent to Britain, where 79 of them were used for suicide. He has now pleaded guilty. The Canadian… Continue reading The Kenneth Law case
