Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
CAMPAIGNERS LOST THEIR bid to overturn a ban on doctors helping seriously ill people to die in England and Wales today.
The case was brought by Paul Lamb, who was paralysed in a road accident 20 years ago and now requires 24-hour care. He now wants the legal right to end his life with the help of a medic.
He lodged the case alongside Jane Nicklinson, whose husband Tony had Locked-in Syndrome but died in 2012, a week after losing a previous legal battle to secure the right to die.
Their lawyers had argued that a ban on assisted suicide was incompatible with the right to respect for private and family life enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights.
While the Supreme Court in London did not rule in their favour, five of the nine senior judges said they did have the power to declare that a blanket ban on assisted suicide was incompatible with the convention.
Two went further, saying they would have made such a ruling.
“I am very proud of myself. I know it is going to change,” Lamb said after the judgement.
The court also dismissed a challenge from a severely disabled man identified only as Martin that the chief prosecutor for England and Wales should rewrite guidance on prosecutions relating to a similar issue.
Currently, people who help others to die face jail sentences of up to 14 years.
But there have been a string of legal challenges to the status quo in recent years amid growing pressure for a change in the law, which is resisted by religious groups.
The House of Lords – Britain’s unelected second chamber of parliament – is to debate a bill that would legalise assisted dying next month but it has little chance of becoming law.
- © AFP 2014.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Hats off to these chaps.Real heroes.
and chapesses….
Why the red thumbs to your true true comment?
I wonder if this indicates that people don’t give our waterways the respect that they give to our seas?
Because some people were born A holes and some learned how to be A holes
You’re simply the best.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution
One of the few organizations doing great work on both sides of the border…
What about Sinn Fein?
What about it?
Not surprised Lough Ree was the busiest. Very dangerous lake if you don’t know it, full of hire cruisers in the hands of tourists let loose on the river with only ten minutes training.
Well done to all the RNLI crews. It takes some dedication to leave your warm beds on a wet stormy night and put out to sea to save others. These volunteers dont get half the credit they deserve.
Hero’s every one of them.
Agree John even though I was one of those tourists. Hired a small cruiser a few years ago for a week with the wife. Couldn’t believe how bad it got while crossing Lough Ree, it was worse than been out at sea!
Great organisation. Would love to have the time to be a crew member.
Don’t leave your money to the ungrateful kids leave to the RNLI!!
I’d love to have the sea legs for it. I get seasick looking at a boat.
Bravo, a very cheering tale after reading about the carry-on of some of our citizens.
Real heroes!
have your say