Government rejects bill offering ‘medically induced suicide’ verdict to coroners

The Government has said it will oppose a private member’s bill allowing coroners to return a verdict of “medically induced suicide”, where the suicide is attributed to medication taken by the deceased.

Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn’s Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2016, to be debated at the second stage today, would allow for a coroner to return a verdict of “iatrogenic suicide”.

It would be defined as the ending of one’s life as the result of medical treatment, for example by taking SSRIs (a prescription antidepressant).

Explaining the government’s opposition, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said: “Acceptance of the proposed definition and of a verdict of ‘iatrogenic suicide’, would risk its use by a coroner at inquest, being interpreted as apportioning some liability on the medical practitioner who may have prescribed any form of treatment or medication to the deceased person prior to taking his or her own life.

“The coroner’s inquest is an inquisitorial process. It is not permitted to consider questions of civil or criminal liability.”

Mr Flanagan added: “My Department has received the advice of the Office of the Attorney General on the Bill, and its view is that to introduce a verdict of iatrogenic suicide at inquest would be legally unsound. The Coroners Society of Ireland has indicated that it is very much opposed to this proposal, not least given that it might require coroners to reach verdicts that would infer liability on a doctor.

“I believe that a sufficient range of verdicts is available to coroners to draw on in the context of the cases envisaged by this Bill, including those of suicide, open or medical misadventure.”