I probably have an unpopular opinion in that I think assisted suicide does need to be regulated and in my opinion, it should be for adults 18+ of sound mind.
The problem I have with this case is- if this article is true (which I have doubts about.) Then- an actual 'kit' including antiemetics and instructions goes a very long way in assisting a suicide I would say! Assides from being illegal to assist in a suicide, to just sell it to anyone regardless of age does seem irresponsible to me.
That doesn't sound right to me though. I've seen police reports where people bought 'kits' off the dark net but- Amazon... seriously? Doesn't seem plausible to me. How did they advertise it? I can't believe they wouldn't have noticed a 'suicide kit' being sold! I reckon they've got this wrong. Sodium Nitrite on its own- yes but- a 'suicide kit' with instructions? That sounds outright illegal. I doubt they'd be that stupid.
It's a very difficult issue. Especially when minors are involved. In terms of a product. It's tricky again really. You can't prosecute a hardware store for selling rope. That would be ridiculous. But- SN in that higher purity likely isn't in as much demand/regular use as rope. So- if they were receiving warnings it was being used for suicide by children- again- it's a dodgy area.
Toys are recalled when they injure children. Retailers aren't allowed to sell guns, knives and fireworks to children because of the risk factor. In my opinion- they should at least have made it an age restricted product. Why would a 15 year old be buying SN?
The whole thing is so difficult when assisted suicide isn't legalised and regulated. You can't expect a retailer to assess whether a customer is in a sound state of mind to make the decision to take their own life. Because of that- it's understandable that most simply won't sell to individuals now.
Obviously, I have mixed and hypocritical feelings because, I was very grateful to be able to buy it from IC before they were busted. At least at that time, they were checking people's ages though. They still can't really check for competency of course and herein is where the problem lies I think. It depends on whether you think it's possible for someone to suicide when they are in a psychotic state. I'd argue that SN doesn't lend itself so well to impulsive attempts but even so, it's not entirely impossible.
It also depends on whether you think a 12 year old, 15 year old etc. is capable of making such a big decision. My honest answer is- I don't know. I've had ideation since I was 10. The reasons I wanted to CTB have changed but the feeling hasn't so much. Still- I suppose I accept that for a lot of other life changing decisions, we are protected from being able to make those choices for ourselves until we are 18. So on that premise, I think being able to access assisted suicide should be the same. (Unless there are extenuating circumstances- in which case- I imagine the official VAD route would be available.)
A suicide kit is assisting in a suicide I would argue. It was put together for that purpose. SN on its own is more tricky because it is just a product at the end of the day. They were foolish not to act sooner on warnings though- if they indeed got them. I imagine these court cases will hit them with a much higher bill than they would have lost out on in revenue if they'd restricted the product earlier. Almost always- it's minors everyone gives a shit about. If they'd even restricted it to 18+, they'd likely have less of a problem now.
So- yes- sorry but if they were knowingly selling it to children knowing what it would likely be used for- they should get into trouble. You can personally be fined £2,000 as a shop assistant for selling alcohol to a minor. I dread to think what they may end up fining them if they find them guilty! If it's anything like the Kenneth Law case, they'll push for murder I imagine...
Again- the issue is minors probably. Sex with a minor is rape. They aren't considered old enough to be able to consent. I imagine providing a lethal substance and instructions on how to use it to a minor- by the same reasoning, won't be seen as assisting in a suicide. If they aren't old enough to consent to sex or drinking alcohol, they certainly aren't mature enough to make the decision to end their life in the eyes of the law- so- I imagine they'll say it's murder and- first degree murder at that. They know SN kills and they (supposedly) provided the entire kit to give it the best chance of doing so. If that's true, they were utter idiots!
