Doctors and nurses in the UK who assist someone in taking their own lives will be less likely to face criminal charges after a change in prosecution guidelines, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Until now all health care professionals faced a greater chance than others of being prosecuted for helping people to die because they were considered to be in a position of trust.

But Alison Saunders, the Director of Public Prosectutions, changed the guidelines so that the extra deterrent would only apply to doctors “directly involved with a patient’s care.”

Dr Michael Irwin, the former GP nicknamed “Dr Death” after being struck off the medical register in 2005 for helping several people kill themselves, said the change was a “wonderful softening” that would “make life easier” for people like him.

Dr Irwin said that: “it would mean I could help any individual go to (the Dignitas euthanasia clinic in) Switzerland and not worry about it.”

“There are many retired doctors who will be willing to help.”

Dr Peter Saunders, campaign director of the Care Not Killing alliance, which opposes any relaxation in the law agreed with Dr Irwin’s assessment.

“This is very concerning,” he said. “The Director of Public Prosecutions is effectively at a stroke of her pen decriminalising assisted suicide by doctors and other health care professionals as long as they don’t have an existing relationship with the patient. It weakens the protections for sick and vulnerable people.”

But the DPP insisted the change was simply a clarification and would not offer anyone “immunity” against prosecution for assisted suicide, which is punishable by up to 14 years in jail.

Guidelines published by the former DPP, Sir Keir Starmer, in 2010 say people acting “wholly out of compassion” could avoid prosecution for helping people end their lives. But the guidelines also list circumstances that would make prosecution more likely. They include where someone is “acting in his or her capacity” as a medical doctor.

Ms Saunders has changed the guidance so that prosecution for doctors will only be more likely if patients are “in his or her care”.

She explained that this meant that someone would not face an extra risk of prosecution “merely because” they were acting in their capacity as a doctor.

The change in the law comes as Britain debates amending its laws on assisted suicide. The House of Lords will soon begin detailed scrutiny of a Bill introduced by Lord Falconer which would legalise “assisted dying” for the terminally ill. Both Prime Minster David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg both oppose the Falconer Bill, but both will allow their parties a free vote.