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The report starts:
Tony Nicklinson, 56, can only communicate by blinking and nodding at
letters to spell out words.
He says that since suffering a massive stroke while on a business trip to
Greece five years ago his quality of life has been so poor that he now
wants the right to die.
But his disability means he cannot commit suicide. Instead he wants the
law on mercy killing clarified so his wife can assist his death without
being prosecuted for murder.
In a statement, he said: "I am fed up with my life and don't want to spend
the next 20 year or so like this. Am I grateful that the Athens doctors
saved my life? No, I am not."
The reporter notes that
Mr Nicklinson is too ill to travel to the Swiss suicide clinic Dignitas.
He has considered starving himself to death, but it would take weeks and
distress his family.
Later, the report says:
His campaign is backed by Dignity In Dying.
Its chief executive Sarah Wotton said: "The law of murder is primarily
used to convict people who act out of malicious motivation. It should not
be used to prosecute someone who compassionately helps a person who is
suffering to die at their request."
[There are other related stories in the Links section below.]
To read the full article click on one of these links, both of which go to the same destination. A short link is provided for the convenience of readers. Also, readers may search and browse past and future advisories on the web (see bottom.)
Britain: Euthanasia: "mercy killing" law to be tested
[BBC commentary]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/ferguswalsh/2010/07/euthanasia_mercy_killing_law_to_be_tested.html
Fergus Walsh gives an excellent summary of the state
of play in the Tony Nicklinson case: the background,
the facts, the likely short-term outcome.
Britain: Man's court bid to clarify law on mercy killing
[Herald Scotland]
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/crime-courts/man-s-court-bid-to-clarify-law-on-mercy-killing-1.1042397?localLinksEnabled=false
This report contains comments from Margo MacDonald:
Independent MSP Margo MacDonald, who has introduced the End of Life
Assistance (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament, said the issue
should be resolved by politicians looking at legislation and not through
the courts.
She said: "The politicians really have to address this question, they
cannot dodge it. If the Scottish Parliament debates the issue properly and
reflects the point of view of the general public, then it will pass the
bill. Politically, that takes the heat off Westminster.
Commenting on Care Not Killing's assertions
of abuse:
MacDonald said safeguards had been built into her Bill to ensure that the
person who wishes to die is capable of making the decision and is not
being forced into it.
She added: "[Care Not Killing] don't appreciate that other people can be
just as moral as they are but have a different approach to the question of
autonomy. Mr Nicklinson considers it's his life, his wife considers that
also."
Britain: Debbie Purdy support's man's right to die
[The Telegraph]
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/7899363/Locked-in-syndrome-case-Debbie-Purdy-supports-mans-right-to-die.html
This report quotes Debbie Purdy on the Tony
Nicklinson case:
"I think we are fighting different battles," she said. "I was fighting for
my life - it's not the same argument as the fight for him but I'm
wholeheartedly behind him.
"The basic argument is the same - the law is ridiculous. How can someone
who walks into a post office and carries out a shooting have the same law
applied to him as a loving wife who is trying to do what she can for her
husband?
"With the legal team he has got behind him - the same as mine - he has
every chance possible of being successful."
Britain: Mercy killer appeals against murder conviction for giving son fatal overdose
[The Guardian]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/jul/21/mercy-killer-appeals-son-heroin
This report begins:
The family of a woman convicted of murder for killing her severely
brain-damaged son, today called for a change in the way doctors are
allowed to end the lives of patients who have no chance of recovery.
Alex Inglis, 27, the eldest son of Frances Inglis, who gave a heroin
overdose to her middle son, Tom, after severe head injuries left him in a
vegetative state, said the courts should allow doctors to administer rapid
euthanasia rather than withdrawing food and water which can take as long
as two weeks.
Inglis spoke out as his mother, who is serving a minimum of nine years in
jail for killing the 22-year old, appeared briefly at the high court at
the start of her appeal against conviction. The 58-year old asked for
proceedings to be adjourned because she was not happy with the case that
had been prepared for her and the lord chief justice, who is presiding
over the appeal, granted her time to find new counsel.
Inglis's family believes the criminal justice system has failed her
because it did not take into account the impact on her of advice from
medical staff treating her son that the best course of action would be to
end his life by removing sustenance.
Moore, Thomas. "Paralysed Man Seeks Right To End His Life". Sky News. 10:09am UK, Tuesday July 20, 2010. <news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Paraylsed-Briton-Tony-Nicklinson-Calls-For-New-Review-Of-The-Laws-On-Assisted-Suicide/Article/201007315667550>. Sky News, BSkyB, Grant Way, Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7 5QD, UK.
Tags (or keywords) briefly indicate some major topics of the report.
mercy killing
judicial decision
Britain
The EuthaNEWSia ID for this advisory is: enid201007213401.
Mailed: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 14:46:04 -0600
at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
EuthaNEWSia is a free Canadian news advisory service covering end-of-life issues such as right to die, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. EuthaNEWSia is produced by the Right to Die Society of Canada which works toward a good death for all, including open, regulated and equitable access to euthanasia and assisted suicide. The editor is Michael Dawson <editor@euthanewsia.ca>.
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