Professor John Mee:

I agree, but the weapon of chaos is lack of clarity. That is why it is good to have legislation but also it must be right. While we have waited so long for it, if we get something that is not right, that is a perfect weapon for the person with the energy.

One point that has not come up that is worth airing is the issue of other offences such as assisted suicide or, less importantly, infanticide. On the matter of assisted suicide, in the Law Reform Commission's report it was said that most people thought it should be included and then it never mentioned it again and it was not included. An individual could mess with a person's head and get them to commit suicide and then that individual could inherit. That would be very bad. On the other hand, one could be assisting suicide in a much less blameworthy way if someone was at the end of their life and was in great pain. Possibly that issue should be in the Bill and covered by discretion so that there could be discretion to relieve against that in a less meritorious case. A person could profit if they manipulated somebody and got them to commit suicide. Certainly it is an issue that should be discussed. The Law Reform Commission seemed to say that most people were in favour of including that, and then it never talked about it again.