Assisted suicide and euthanasia are illegal in Ireland. A recent court challenge brought by an MS sufferer who wished to seek assurances that her partner would not be prosecuted if he assisted her suicide was turned down by the High Court and then the Supreme Court, who considered the law to be sufficiently flexible to consider cases on their merits without the need for legislation. Ireland's suicide rate is higher than average and palliative and end of life care is under-developed.