Peers set to challenge suicide law

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More Britons are choosing to travel abroad to end their lives at clinics such as Dignitas in Switzerland.

Peers led by former Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer and Baroness Jay, former leader of the House of Lords, are to table an amendment this week to the Coroners and Justice Bill to try and lift the threat of prosecution currently faced by those helping somebody commit assisted suicide overseas.

An estimated 800 Britons are now members of the Dignitas clinic, support group Dignity in Dying said.

And 34 people have been given the "green light" by the clinic allowing them to proceed with their assisted suicides.

Sarah Wootton chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said the current laws governing assisted suicide were "out of step" with public feeling.

She said: "Parliament urgently needs to acknowledge the fact that people are travelling overseas to die and this trend shows no sign of stopping.

"People are losing faith in Parliament and its ability to reflect the will of the electorate.

"Given that poll after poll has shown that 80% of the public support a change in the law, it's time that the 1961 Suicide Act was brought into line with current public opinion and current prosecuting policy."