Counselling or Aiding Suicide

The offence of counselling or aiding suicide is outlined in section 241(1) of the Criminal Code.

A person commits the offence of counselling or aiding suicide when they encourage, guide, or otherwise help a person commit suicide.

Examples

Person A constantly tells person B to kill themself, person B does commit suicide.

Person C gives person D detailed instructions on how to commit suicide and strongly encourages person D to follow them. Even if person D does not follow person C’s instructions, person C has committed the offence of counselling or aiding suicide.

Person E gives person F pills that person F can take to kill themselves. Person E is aware person F is suicidal when he gives him the pills.

Cases

*We couldn’t find any cases for this offence in any just in Canada

Offence Specific Defence(s)

Medical Assistance in Dying

If a medical or nurse practitioner, pharmacist, social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, or anyone asked by the person to help is helping, encouraging, or guiding someone to kill themselves in accordance with all the laws concerning medical assistance in dying, they may not have completed the offence of counselling or aiding suicide.

These exceptions are codified in sections 241 (2), (3), (4), (5), (5.1) of the Criminal Code.