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Right-to-die campaigner is arrested and dares police to prosecute him
Anna Davis, Education Correspondent31 Jul 2009
A leading euthanasia campaigner was arrested today by police investigating the death of a cancer sufferer at an assisted suicide clinic.
Dr Michael Irwin had arranged to go to Shoreditch police station but was taken to Battersea police station before being released on bail.
Dr Irwin has admitted being with pancreatic cancer sufferer Raymond Cutkelvin when he died at the Dignitas suicide clinic in Switzerland in 2007.
Before arriving at the police station he said: "I am daring them to prosecute me. It is a hypocritical British system that allows the rich to seek treatment but the poor to face prosecution."
His arrest comes a day after a landmark ruling which forced Britain's law chiefs to clarify when charges should be brought in "right to die" cases.
Multiple sclerosis sufferer Debbie Purdy went to court to clarify the law so she could decide whether to take her own life without fear of her husband being prosecuted.
Dr Irwin said he helped pay for Mr Cutkelvin to die and travelled with him to Switzerland.
He was in the room when he drank a lethal dose of barbiturates and watched as he died holding the hand of his long-term partner Alan Cutkelvin Rees.
Mr Cutkelvin Rees has already been arrested over the death and has been bailed until September.
Speaking before his police interview, Dr Irwin said: "I wrote a cheque for £1,500 for Raymond. I will go to the police voluntarily to tell them what I did.
"I will say that if you arrested Alan you should arrest me. I hope yesterday's decision by the Law Lords means the stupid arrest of Alan will be overturned."
If he is charged he could face 14 years in jail for aiding and abetting a suicide.
After his release, DrIrwin said: "The officers were very courteous. I was arrested on the basis of conspiring to cause suicide but in all honesty my sympathies are with the officers. They were simply being forced to go through the motions."
He was bailed to return to Stoke Newington police station on 23September - the same day and place as Mr Cutkelvin Rees.
A spokeswoman for the Met said a 78-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of aiding a suicide under the Suicide Act of 1961.
David Winnick, Labour MP for Walsall North, today said he planned to enter the ballot to put forward a Private Member's Bill suggesting "a measure whereby assisted dying could take place in this country".
He said: "The question arises from yesterday's decision: should we recognise cases such as Debbie Purdy, should we change the law, should people have to go abroad?"
