No assisted suicide charges over Lewes novelist's death (From The Argus)

No assisted suicide charges over Lewes novelist's death

3:43pm Tuesday 2nd February 2010 in

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Nobody is to be charged with assisting the suicide of an elderly novelist who killed herself by taking an overdose of prescription drugs, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said today.

Police launched an investigation after Jane Aiken Hodge, 91, died at her home in Lewes, East Sussex, on June 17 last year.

Her death was referred to the coroner as a suicide but a file of evidence was submitted to the CPS to consider whether any of the four people who were with her when she died had assisted her in ending her life.

However Michael Jennings, reviewing lawyer for the CPS special crime division (SCD), who looked at the case, said he had been satisfied Mrs Hodge had acted independently.

He said in a statement: "On June 13 or 14 2009, Mrs Hodge ingested a large amount of prescription drugs and lapsed into unconsciousness. She never regained consciousness, dying at home on June 17.

"Over that period, four individuals spent varying amounts of time with her. I considered whether they assisted her suicide."

He concluded: "Mrs Hodge acted independently.There is no suggestion anyone procured or assisted in the administration of the drugs.

"I decided there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the offence of assisting a suicide. In the absence of sufficient evidence, there was no need to consider the public interest and interim CPS policy regarding assisted suicide."

He said that as emergency services were not called he had to look at whether any offence had been committed. But he added that Mrs Hodge had signed a living will, which meant that if unable to make her own decisions and with little chance of recovery, she did not wish to be treated, resuscitated or kept alive artificially.

"I was satisfied this advance decision was valid and applicable," Mr Jennings said.

"A hospital could have given Mrs Hodge no more care than that she received at home. None of the individuals concerned did anything to contribute to her death and I concluded no other offence had been committed."