The Dept of Health and the Ministry of Justice have both distanced themselves from Anna Soubry's comments on the right to die. Newly-appointed health minister Anna Soubry has delivered an outspoken attack on the laws governing assisted suicide.

She told The Times: "I think it's ridiculous and appalling that people have to go abroad to end their life instead of being able to end their life at home." Her intervention coincides with legal appeals for new guidelines, following the death of locked-in syndrome sufferer Tony Nicklinson.

Ms Soubry admits she is unsure about that particular case, conceding: "You can't say to a doctor or a nurse you can kill this person." Nonetheless, the high court judges referred to the "terrible predicament" of Mr Nicklinson, and described the case as "deeply moving and tragic". And Mr Nicklinson's solicitor has said it should be referred to the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court. A former keen sportsman, Mr Nicklinson was paralysed by a stroke in 2005.

He subsequently described his existence as "pure torture" and sobbed in front of cameras when the court ruled he could not end his life. In the event, he died naturally, and, according to his wife, "heartbroken". His funeral was held last week.  However, both the Department of Health and the Ministry of Justice have distanced themselves from Ms Soubry's protests.

They said in statements she was http://jiujitsurevealed.blogspot.com/ expressing a personal view, and that any new legislation would be a matter for parliament, not government. Certainly, this bitterly contentious subject divides parties and even departments. One fellow health minister, Norman Lamb, agrees with Ms Soubry. But it is believed another, Dan Poulter, does not.

As things stand, all suspected cases of assisted suicide must be investigated by police and referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The maximum sentence following a guilty verdict is 14 years' jail, though few cases actually go to trial. Nonetheless, opinion polls suggest around 70% of voters think the law should be changed. Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the former Labour minister who ran a commission on assisted dying, is quoted in the Times backing Ms Soubry's reform call.

He said his commission concluded: "You should assist people to kill themselves subject to stringent safeguards, but not allow doctors to kill their patients. "Assisted suicide yes, euthanasia no." However, it is clear that any change in the law would be approached by ministers with absolute caution. Adjustment to guidelines by the courts currently looks more likely. Or, rather, less unlikely.

http://news.sky.com/story/982607/govt-distances-itself-from-soubry-comments