Acknowledgements1 Suicide: Definitions and Conceptual ApproachesI Defining SuicideA Why Define?B Self-caused DeathC An Intention to DieII Different Conceptions of SuicideA The Moralistic ViewB The Sociological ViewC The Medical ModelD The Rights ViewE The Consequentialist ViewIII Conclusion2 The History of the Law against SuicideI Historical BackgroundII Punishment of Suicide in English LawIII The Insanity ExceptionA The Pivotal Role of Coroner's JuriesB Life Insurance Suicide Exclusion ClausesIV The Nineteenth-century Removal of the Penalties for SuicideV The Development of the Offence of Attempted SuicideVI A Medical or Social Problem: Treatment not PunishmentVII Conclusion3 The Legalisation of SuicideI Impetus for LegalisationA The Treatment Concern -- The Mental Health Act 1959B The Religious Objection -- The Church of England's `Ought Suicide to be a Crime?' ReportC The Political Perspective -- Parliamentary Interest in the IssueD The Legal Issue -- The Criminal Law Revision Committee's Report 1960E ConclusionII Parliamentary Passage of the Suicide BillA House of LordsB House of CommonsIII Suicide in the Courts after 1961A Suicide PactsB The New Statutory Offence of Assisted SuicideIV Changing the Wording of the OffenceV Legal Duties to Prevent SuicideVI Conclusion4 Suicide and Mental HealthI Suicide and RationalityA Can a Suicidal Person have Capacity?B Can Suicide Ever be a Rational Choice?C Implications for Suicide Prevention and the LawII Current Legal Framework: The Use of Mental Capacity and Mental Health Laws to Prevent SuicideA Overview of Mental Health Laws for Preventing Risk of SuicideB Application of Mental Capacity Laws for Preventing Risk of SuicideC Problems with Both Mental Capacity and Mental Health Laws in the Suicide ContextD A Refined Legal Approach with Capacity at its CoreIII Conclusion5 Suicide in Detention and the Human Rights Obligations to Prevent itI Suicide in DetentionII Suicide in Detention and the Right to LifeA Assessment of Suicide RiskB Preventative Steps and ReasonablenessIII Suicide in Detention and Degrading TreatmentIV Suicide and Autonomy in DetentionV Suicide, Detention and VulnerabilityVI Conclusion6 Suicide of Children and Young PersonsI Suicide and the YoungII Young People, Autonomy and Choices about DyingA Judicial Approaches to Children who Choose to DieB The Meaning of Autonomy and Capacity in Relation to Young Persons' Choices to DieC Seeking a Principled Basis for Overriding a Young Person's Choice to DieIII Responding to Suicide Risks in Young PeopleIV Conclusion7 Suicide and Refusal of Treatment at the End of LifeI Refusing Life-sustaining Medical Treatment and SuicideII Is Respecting a Choice to Die Assisting a Suicide?III Is there a Duty to Prevent Suicide at the End of Life?IV Conclusion8 Assisting and/or Encouraging SuicideI The Current Offence of Assisting SuicideA The Assisted `Dying' ChallengeB Prosecutorial Tolerance of Assisting SuicideC The Ongoing Judicial Struggles with Assisted DyingD Conclusions on the Current OffenceII Encouraging Suicide -- Using the Criminal Law to Protect Human LifeIII Legalising Assistance with a Capacitated Voluntary DeathIV Conclusion9 Conclusion and RecommendationsI `Suicide' and the Law -- Changing the Label, Recognising the HistoryII Capacity to Choose to Die -- The Key to the Law's Proper AmbitIII Suicide Prevention in ContextIV A Call for Reform of the Criminal OffenceV Applying the Current Law and Preventing SuicideBibliographyIndex