MS sufferer wins battle over assisted suicide law (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Debbie's case brings into sharp focus the reality of other people's suffering.Not only her personal fight with MS, but also the legal injustice she is striving to overcome, as it effects her husband and other couples in a similar dilemma. At present she is enjoying her life and I sincerely hope she can do so as long as possible.Life would be even easier for her if the legalities were not so consuming..Good luck Debbie.

Assisted suicide is wrong and is murder. The Director of Public Prosecutions should make sure that if Omar Puente assist Debbie in suicide then he should be prosecuted for murder. Shame on the Law Lords for allowing this appeal.

ew.walgrove wrote:
Assisted suicide is wrong and is murder. The Director of Public Prosecutions should make sure that if Omar Puente assist Debbie in suicide then he should be prosecuted for murder. Shame on the Law Lords for allowing this appeal.

What a load of biased bull,just because you would watch a loved one suffer and do nothing about it doesnt mean everyone should do that ,good luck to the couple i hope they have a long and happy life and when the time comes to go,do it your way.

I have every sympathy but what is going to happen if the DPP "clarify" the law and it remains the same ?

I'm assuming legal aid is getting a hammering here ?

Not sure what the problem is, if she goes to Digitas there is no way her husband will be prosecuted. Nobody has yet been found guilty of assisting a suicide at the swiss clinic out of the hundreds who have gone.

I wish to thank Ms. Purdy for taking this stand for our right to choose how we live our lives. The world will always follow the brave when they are in the right. She has won my eternal respect and gratitude.
Russell Conkling
San Antonio, TX
USA

ew.walgrove wrote:
Assisted suicide is wrong and is murder. The Director of Public Prosecutions should make sure that if Omar Puente assist Debbie in suicide then he should be prosecuted for murder. Shame on the Law Lords for allowing this appeal.

I have recently seen a father question a religion he has adhered strictly to all his life when his daughter was stricken with breast cancer.I fear Ew would do the same.

The simple fact is that the ambiguities in the current law only serve to deepen the misery and suffering of those facing up to horrific situations.

Miss Purdy has used a sizeable chunk of the time allowed to her by God, Nature or whichever Governing Force one chooses to believe in fighting this battle. The battle was against laws written by Man, admittedly with a nod to Morality and Religion. Miss Purdy should be allowed to spend her time remaining as she sees fit rather than worrying about events and consequences which are to follow her passing.

Her lifelong battle has been against her illness and, personally, I am in awe of the fact that she found the strength to face up to a second.

ew.walgrove wrote:
Assisted suicide is wrong and is murder. The Director of Public Prosecutions should make sure that if Omar Puente assist Debbie in suicide then he should be prosecuted for murder. Shame on the Law Lords for allowing this appeal.

The key to this is that it happens in another country and involves people who have previously made the necessary arrangements themselves, no matter what ones moral stance on this it should not be possible to prosecute those who have merely accompanied someone while they travel to the clinic. Should such a clinic wish to practice in this country then we would be faced with something different, it is a known fact that unofficially some doctors have allowed people to end their lives either through treatment neglect or drug overdose.

Had they just gone to Switzerland, and not said anything... what could this country have done? How could they have proved what happened, happened?...(Maybe that's what they should have done)... but instead, they chose to make their intentions public, reveal their plans, and have now alerted the "authorities" to the situation...and have found themselves tangled up in red-tape, trying to win the right to do what they want, and for Ms Purdy to die in the manor she wishes, which is no longer a criminal offence, instead of enjoying what's left of their life together.. This may have turned into a quite seperate personal battle for the two of them, to allow future people to be able to carry out their wishes, without fear of prosecution... Personally, I believe that the act of commiting suicide, when there are people who need you, love you, and will miss you, and could have helped you, (even if you didn't realise this), IS wrong.. I could never do something like that to my family...but this isn't suicide in its usual form.. it's dying with dignity.. there's a big difference. Putting yourself above your loved ones is the ultimate sacrifice, and it won't be a decision that they've come to lightly...I wish them all the luck in the world...and hope that Ms Purdy finds her peace in the next life.. xx

security word= trip-rely... how fitting.

Dr Evil wrote:

ew.walgrove wrote:
Assisted suicide is wrong and is murder. The Director of Public Prosecutions should make sure that if Omar Puente assist Debbie in suicide then he should be prosecuted for murder. Shame on the Law Lords for allowing this appeal.

I have recently seen a father question a religion he has adhered strictly to all his life when his daughter was stricken with breast cancer.I fear Ew would do the same.

The simple fact is that the ambiguities in the current law only serve to deepen the misery and suffering of those facing up to horrific situations.

Miss Purdy has used a sizeable chunk of the time allowed to her by God, Nature or whichever Governing Force one chooses to believe in fighting this battle. The battle was against laws written by Man, admittedly with a nod to Morality and Religion. Miss Purdy should be allowed to spend her time remaining as she sees fit rather than worrying about events and consequences which are to follow her passing.

Her lifelong battle has been against her illness and, personally, I am in awe of the fact that she found the strength to face up to a second.

The decision does not mean that the Law Lords have changed the law on assisted suicide. Indeed, they were at pains to state that any change in the law would be a matter for Parliament. What the judgement does mean is that the Director of Public Prosecutions will now have to set out clearly what principles inform whether or not he decides to bring a prosecution. Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury said that the Law Lord’s decision is ‘simply that the article 8 rights of Ms Purdy entitle her to be provided with guidance from the Director as to how he proposes to exercise his discretion under section 2(4) of the 1961 Act. As judges, we are concerned with applying the law, not with changing the law: that is a matter to be decided by Parliament.’ Of great importance Parliament We need to remember that Parliament has only just spoken, on July 7th peers determined by 194 against to 141 for. That a majority of 53, that it would be quite wrong to change the law to decriminalise anyone assisting another to travel abroad to access a suicide clinic.

ew.walgrove wrote:

Dr Evil wrote:

ew.walgrove wrote:
Assisted suicide is wrong and is murder. The Director of Public Prosecutions should make sure that if Omar Puente assist Debbie in suicide then he should be prosecuted for murder. Shame on the Law Lords for allowing this appeal.

I have recently seen a father question a religion he has adhered strictly to all his life when his daughter was stricken with breast cancer.I fear Ew would do the same.

The simple fact is that the ambiguities in the current law only serve to deepen the misery and suffering of those facing up to horrific situations.

Miss Purdy has used a sizeable chunk of the time allowed to her by God, Nature or whichever Governing Force one chooses to believe in fighting this battle. The battle was against laws written by Man, admittedly with a nod to Morality and Religion. Miss Purdy should be allowed to spend her time remaining as she sees fit rather than worrying about events and consequences which are to follow her passing.

Her lifelong battle has been against her illness and, personally, I am in awe of the fact that she found the strength to face up to a second.

The decision does not mean that the Law Lords have changed the law on assisted suicide. Indeed, they were at pains to state that any change in the law would be a matter for Parliament. What the judgement does mean is that the Director of Public Prosecutions will now have to set out clearly what principles inform whether or not he decides to bring a prosecution. Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury said that the Law Lord’s decision is ‘simply that the article 8 rights of Ms Purdy entitle her to be provided with guidance from the Director as to how he proposes to exercise his discretion under section 2(4) of the 1961 Act. As judges, we are concerned with applying the law, not with changing the law: that is a matter to be decided by Parliament.’ Of great importance Parliament We need to remember that Parliament has only just spoken, on July 7th peers determined by 194 against to 141 for. That a majority of 53, that it would be quite wrong to change the law to decriminalise anyone assisting another to travel abroad to access a suicide clinic.

Even if its not decriminalized the sentences dished out by the courts in this country for violent murder ,would mean youd only get a couple of weeks,so I think before we worry about prosecuting some one for helping a loved one do what they wish,we should get our house in order over violent and malicious killings?Dont you think E.W.WAlgrove!

I think this just a fad, I am sure it will die out!

David Crocket wrote:
I think this just a fad, I am sure it will die out!

The people who go in for it certainly will!