New guidelines published Feb. 25 offer people in England and Wales broad hints about how to help a gravely ill loved one end their life with minimal fear of prosecution.

Assisted suicide remains illegal, but Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer said six factors would make it less likely that prosecutors would bring charges in individual cases.

Starmer was forced to clarify the assisted suicide guidelines by the House of Lords, acting on behalf of multiple sclerosis sufferer Debbie Purdy, who wants her husband to be able to help her end her life at a time of her choosing without facing prosecution.

Starmer said one factor would be whether the suspect was acting wholly out of compassion. Other factors that would make criminal charges less likely included victims who had made a voluntary and informed decision to end their lives, suspects who reported the suicide to police, and cases where a suspect tried in vain to convince the victim not to choose suicide.