Nikki and Merv Kenward are challenging the recent decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions to change the policy on the prosecution of medical staff who assist others in committing suicide.
The Suicide Act 1961 makes it a criminal offence to assist or encourage the suicide, or attempted suicide, of another person. The Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP) has discretion on whether to prosecute according to the published policy.
In October 2014, the DPP amended the policy, making the prosecution of healthcare professionals in assisted suicide cases less likely.
In response, the Kenwards made an application for a Judicial Review of the DPP’s changes. Nikki, who was once so paralysed she could only wink her right eye, argued against the “liberalised” guidelines.
She and her husband campaign against euthanasia and assisted suicide through the Distant Voices campaign group
