Purdy's Quest For Clarity
Debbie Purdy, 45, suffers from MS and plans to travel to Switzerland to end her life if her situation becomes unbearable. She has been seeking clarification from the courts on whether her husband will face prosecution if he helps her to do this.
Note;
'..since October 2002 up to 100 British citizens have travelled abroad for the purpose of lawfully obtaining an assisted suicide. But in no case had a prosecution resulted..' [www.timesonline.co.uk 30/10/08]
Her efforts have been unsuccessful, it was concluded that her '..human rights were not infringed by the current state of the law..' [www.timesonline.co.uk 30/10/08] Purdy plans to appeal but has also directed attention towards Parliament, stressing the need to reconsider the 1961 Suicide Act arguing for a change to the law on assisted suicide.
Debbie Purdy claims that she may have to end her life earlier than necessary (while she is still able to), in order to avoid putting her husband at risk of prosecution.
Click here for a clip from Sky news, a Times Online article and further links.
Dan James
23 year old Dan, from Worcester, played for Nuneaton Rugby Club where he became paralysed from the chest down following a training accident last year.
In September Dan travelled to a Swiss euthanasia clinic with his parents to receive assisted suicide. Police are currently investigating his death.
Dr Peter Saunders of the Care Not Killing Alliance fears a 'slippery slope' where assisted suicide has been granted initially for terminal conditions such as some cancers and motor neuron disease, then for chronic illness and now disabilities.
Click here for more on the case.
- Should politicians review the law on assisted suicide and legalise it?
- If it is legal in some countries, why not here?
- Should we have the right to manage our own deaths?
- Why do some people choose assisted suicide, whereas others do not?
- Debbie Purdy sufferers from a terminal illness, Dan James from a disablility. Do these different circumstances raise different issues about legalising assisted suicide?
Dignity in Dying
Care Not Killing
