Suicide country
The BBC is to broadcast a documentary featuring a man committing suicide at the Dignitas clinic in Zurich. Where else in the world can assisted suicide be carried out without attracting a murder charge?
Netherlands: prosecutions for voluntary euthanasia effectively ceased in 1973, after an agreement between doctors and the government. Formally legalised in 2001 by Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide Act 2001
Belgium: euthanasia legalised for adults in 2002. A bill to extend it to children failed in 2004
Oregon: law to allow doctor-assisted suicide (Death with Dignity Act) passed in 1994, and came into force in 1997
Washington state: Death with Dignity Act passed in 2008
In addition, Australia’s Northern Territories passed an act legalising assisted suicide in 1996, overturned by the Australian government the following year
Live aid
The government and John Major defended the UK’s rising aid budget.
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