2014 Psychology Student Conference

1. Maxine Kenyon

2.  1. Suicide to cease to be a crime.
 2. Criminal liability for complicity in another’s suicide.
I)A person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the suicide of another, or
an attempt by another to commit suicide, shall be liable on conviction on
indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years.
II)If on the trial of an indictment for murder or manslaughter it is proved that
the accused aided, abetted, counselled or procured the suicide of the
person in question, the jury may find him guilty of that offence.

3. Against
Janet Tracey
For
Paul Lamb

4. Paul Lamb Interview

5. The Director of Public Prosecutions
undertook a survey in September 2009 to
create a snapshot of public opinion
resulting in the creation of the Policy for
Prosecutors in respect of encouraging or
assisting suicide.

6. The taking of life goes against the
teachings of God.
H1: High levels of religiosity will result in a
negative attitude towards euthanasia and
Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS).

7. Kouwenhoven et al (2010).
 British Social Attitudes Survey (2007).
Seale (2009).
Harrison and Jeffrey (2012).
H2: A care based course of study or
occupation will result in negative attitudes
towards euthanasia and PAS.

8.  If the person seeking to end their life is older
and perceived as having lived a full life will
there be a more positive attitude than if the
person making the same decisions were
younger and perceived as being at the start of
their adult life.
H3: The increased age of the person
requesting end of life support will result in a
positive attitude towards euthanasia and PAS.

9.  The Hayley Cropper storyline in Coronation
St coincided with my research. Hayley was
diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer
and made the decision to end her life at a
time that felt right to her.
H4: People who watch Coronation Street will
have a more positive attitude towards
euthanasia and PAS.

10.  The main ethical concern regarding this
research was the subject of the study.
 Before issuing the questionnaire the content
was discussed with the participant.
 All participants were advised that they had
the right to withdraw.
 Contact details were available should
participants require further information or
support.

11. Dukes University Religion Index (Koenig
and Bussing, 2010).
Example question:
• My religious beliefs are what really lie behind my
whole approach to life.

12. Active
• Administering a lethal dose of a
substance
Severe pain
Patients request
• The patient asks to end
their life
• Voluntary
Passive
• Withholding life maintaining
treatment
No recovery
Doctors decision
• Doctor makes a decision
on a patients behalf
• Non voluntary

13.  Example question:
• If a patient in severe pain requests it, a doctor should
remove life support and allow that patient to die.
(patient, pain, passive)
• It is okay for a doctor to administer enough medicine
to a suffering patient to end that patients life, if the
doctor thinks the patients pain is too severe.
(doctor, pain, active)

14. Occupation
t(73,71) = 0.39 p>0.05
Religiosity
F(2,70) = 2.12 p>0.05
32.5
32
31.5
31
30.5
30
29.5
29
Occupation
Attitude score
Care
Non-care
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Religiosity
Attitude score
High
Medium
Low

15. Coronation St
t(72,71) = 1.45 p>0.05
Age
t(72,71) = 1.45 p>0.05
34
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
Coronation St
Attitude score
Watch
Do Not
Watch
15.6
15.4
15.2
15
14.8
14.6
14.4
14.2
Age
Attitude score
27
77

16. 300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Attitude score
Patient
Doctor

17.  As technologies develop end of life
trajectories extend, new medical issues have
developed and the controversy surrounding
end of life decisions has grown.
New challenges to the suicide act will be
made and governments will have to decide
under what circumstances euthanasia can be
justified, if at all.

18. Short semi
structured
interviews
would allow
partcipants to
express their
attitudes in
greater depth.

19. In Switzerland
assisted suicide is
legal and a doctor
does not need to
be present at time
of death.
In Poland all
forms of
euthanasia are
illegal.

20. Overall participants had a positive attitude
towards euthanasia and physician assisted
suicide.
A better understanding of the ethical and
practical implications of any future
legislation is required.

21. Thank you for listening.
Have you any questions?