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Glad he's got the release he so desperately wanted. I know I wouldn't want to live like that.
We seriously need a change in the law in this country.

Agree that this ends his suffering and sad to see it had to happen this way. The problem lies in the logistics and regulation.

How would you make sure someone who was euthanised actually wanted to die? How would you ensure that people weren't being innocently murdered? How would you ensure they weren't suffering? How would you check they didn't have depression or something else that led to feeling like that? Would you limit it to certain conditions? What about conditions were there was treatment that was successful but the person still wanted to die? Would you allow it simply because they chose to? What about people who are physically and mentally fit but don't have anyone else left on this earth and see no point in existing? Who would administer the euthanasia? Who would make the rules? Who would observe?

Briefly, most GPs would not want to take this on.

There is always excuses. This man was obviously paralysed & had no quality of life. I understand it is difficult but come on if people are really suffering why should they not have the choice to die? We have loved ones 'assisting' people and running the risk of being prosecuted after they are dead.

They shoot horses don't they.

They're not excuses

They're serious, fundamental problems that have to be solved before we can have such a law.

+1 in spades ...

I wonder if the disappointment of losing his case helped him along.

His wife says so, he just gave up, stopped eating and the pneumonia finished him off.

I think in cases where there is a clear cut expression of wish, there shouldn't be any prosecution in assisted suicide, if people want to die and are able to make their feelings known in front of a judge, then it should be allowed in which case their GP should be given first refusal as the person who knows them best.

In the less clear cut cases then can it be judged in the same ways as vets assess animals who are suffering or having no quality of life? I don't see the great need for keeping people alive, if they want to die, whatever the motivation, then they should be allowed to and with some dignity. Being disabled and incapable of doing it yourself shouldn't stop you from suicide if you want it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/oct ... ed-suicide

It wasn't a very big story at the time IIRC...

I'm sure several layers of safeguards could be put in place to prevent abuse. Not sure exactly what... registering in advance (like you do with a donor card), only allowing it for certain conditions, living wills etc.

Maybe normal doctors wouldn't have to. It could be a specialist cinic or something.

Taken from BBC news: It has been legal in Switzerland since 1941 if performed by a non-physician with no vested interest in the death.

Just because it's legal there doesn't mean Britain would be able to do it competently as well. That's my concern. We, as a nation, are pretty crap at many things.

I have no doubt Britain could quickly and easily put a robust framework in place, we already have well-established legal processes and public authorities. The only thing stopping the whole thing is the lack of conviction amongst politicians who apparently believe it's quite all right to end the suffering of an animal but not extend the same courtesy to a human being. A human being, I might add, with the capacity to make the choice to die but without the capability to carry out the action.

This is the same group of politicians who apparently have no problem with bombing Iraqi civilians.

you are so right.

I totally agree we are much more humane in the way we treat animals.

I can't speak for anyone else but I hold human life above that of other species. I will happily point a shotgun at a horse, dog etc but don't think I could ever do so at a human purely because they're in pain/unwell.

Not even when that human is plainly begging to die to relieve their own suffering? I can understand the problem if the sufferer is incapable of making that decision, but when someone has explained in their own words that they want assistance to help them die with some dignity surely we should be able to help.

Currently it is illegal for anyone in this country to assist someone to commit suicide.

This is the issue. If Tony Nicklinson had been able to commit suicide without aid, he would have done so. He felt his life was over, and wanted to the option to die with dignity at a time of his choosing. Instead he had to essentially starve himself to death.

It's a good thing we should be having this debate. It's a bad thing our so-called elected representatives don't want to talk about it. As a civilised society, we should allow those who wish to die the right to assistance. It's the humane thing to do.