MS sufferer takes assisted suicide fight to the Lords

Published on Tuesday 2 June 2009 20:13

MULTIPLE sclerosis sufferer Debbie Purdy went to the House of Lords yesterday in her fight over having her husband's help if she commits suicide.

A panel of five Law Lords was told that if the UK law banning assisted suicide was not changed, she might be forced to end her life earlier than she planned.

And if she had to go alone to Switzerland, where assisted suicide is lawful, her husband would not be there to comfort her at the end.

Ms Purdy has failed to secure a definitive court ruling that her husband, Cuban violinist Omar Puente, would not face prosecution if he helped her travel abroad to die.

Under English law, aiding and abetting suicide is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in jail.

Lord Pannick QC, representing her, told the Law Lords , was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1995.

"She accepts there will come a time when her continuing existence will become unbearable for her, at which point she will wish to end her own life."

But he said that by that time she will be incapable of taking her own life without help and would have to go to a country where assisted suicide is legal.

Ms Purdy, from Bradford claims that lack of proper guidance infringes her right to private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.