Who should have the right to a medically assisted death? Richard Scorer & Victoria Beel report
Following a stroke in 2005, Tony Nicklinson suffered from locked in syndrome; he was paralysed below the neck and unable to speak.
In a statement to the court he said ‘I am fed up with my life and don’t want to spend the next 20 years or so like this……I have no privacy or dignity left’. Mr Nicklinson wanted to die, but as a result of his disability was unable to take his own life. He was also unable to turn to family or doctors as assisting someone to die remains an offence under s. 2 (1) Suicide Act 1961 (as amended).
If the assistance given extends to performing the act which brings about death (voluntary active euthanasia), as would have been required in Mr Nicklinson’s case, the person providing the assistance may be charged with manslaughter or murder.
Mr Nicklinson’s case is one of several which have highlighted the issue of assisted dying. Following the case of R (Purdy) v DPP 2009
