Suicide woman allowed to die because doctors feared saving her would be assault

Doctors allowed a young woman, Kerrie Wooltorton, to kill herself because she had signed a “living will” that meant they could have been prosecuted if they intervened to save her life.

Miss Wooltorton, 26, who was suffering depression over her inability to have a child, drank poison at home and called an ambulance. However, she remained conscious and handed doctors a letter saying she wanted medical staff only to make her comfortable and not to try to save her life.

Doctors said her wishes were “abundantly clear” and although it was a “horrible thing” there had been no alternative but to let her die.



They feared they would be charged with assault if they treated her because they believed she understood what she was doing and was mentally capable of refusing treatment.

It is thought to be the first time someone has used a living will to commit suicide. The documents are more commonly associated with patients who are terminally ill and want to refuse treatment.

Miss Wooltorton’s family have since criticised the doctors, saying they should have intervened to save her.