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THE HIGH COURT will today deliver a landmark ruling on assisted suicide following a legal challenge on Ireland’s absolute ban by Wicklow woman Marie Fleming.
Former University College Dublin lecturer Fleming, 58, is in the final stages of Multiple Sclerorsis – after being diagnosed in 1986 – and is unable to end her life without assistance. She argues that the current law is invalid under the Constitution and incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Fleming told the High Court that she was being forced to live in pain and indignity against her will. She claimed the law discriminates against people in her position, who are unable to end their lives, while able-bodied people are free to do so, RTÉ reports.
However, lawyers for the State say that, while suicide was decriminalised in 1993, it is not a Constitutional right to die by suicide. They argued that the law should remain in place on order to protect vulnerable members of society from involuntary death.
Over a six-day hearing last December, Fleming told the court that her partner Tom Curran had promised to help her die – but only if it was legal. Fleming said she had also spoken to her children about her wish to end her life, and that despite their sadness they supported her decision because they could see how her life had “deteriorated”, the BBC reports.
“Tom has promised to help me, only if it’s lawful. Otherwise, I will die a horrible death which could take months or even a year,” she said.
A jail sentence of up to 14 years can be imposed on any person assisting the suicide of another.
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I really hope this woman gets what she wants, though to be honest I can’t see it happening. Isn’t it ironic that when an animal is in terminal pain, we put them to “sleep” as we classify that as “the humane thing to do”, yet we don’t extend that humanity to our own species?
As do I; however an Irish court will never allow it while the catholic church still has it hand on the nations junk……
Remember the church sees suicide as sin, but child molestation as bad publicity
Before my MS gets that bad I would like to have the choice to check out with my family and very close friends around me. ~Hopefully that won’t be for many years to come..
She is a very dignified woman who should be allowed leave this world with that dignity.
Has anyone seen Terry Prachett’s documentary on assisted death. Very insightful. Whatever your opinion on the matter, you have to respect this woman for taking action to better the situation for herself and potentially others.
There’s a few videos on YouTube of actual assists in Switzerland. She should be allowed, I think, so that there’s no need to die in a foreign country if she is really determined to go through with it.
Watching videos of people die, that’s not odd at all!
My husband’s elderly Dutch parents have arranged that when they’ve had enough they’re going to go by choice. I completely admire their decision. Self determination should be celebrated.
Good luck today Marie. We will be thinking of you on your search for justice & dignity.
Very insightful comments so far. I agree with all of them, I find it odd that the State would seek to punish someone for assisting another human being in relieving the pain of their existence. It beggars belief that this fear is held over everyone. I have said this to my future wife, that if I ever had a debilitating terminal illness that I would wish to die before I became a burden on her or the rest of my family. I would not like to be a burden on anyone, especially if it caused me to live a fairly restricted painful existence. I fully support this woman’s wishes, as I have a parent who has MS (luckily not as serious), but I have known too many people who’ve died from the disease. It’s awful. to echo previous comment, I think this lady should be allowed die with her dignity intact.
Hopefully the court will be compassionate and take in what this ladies situation is and agree with her wish.
An absolute disgrace people have not got the right to die graciously and without pain and suffering. Between abortion and this we as a country are messed up.
We put our beloved animals asleep to put them out of pain and misery .. I know it’s different but surly watching someone u love die a horrid or painful death is inhuman .. This woman should have the right to do as she pleases . I would without a second though help one of my loved ones die in peace if that’s wat they wanted .
I think if you have a right to life, then you automatically have a right to death – but I would not be optimisitic for her outcome today – lets hope I’m wrong
Surely assisted suicide could be an option for those who genuinely feel the need for it, if the HSE set up a regulatory body of doctors/professionals to assess each case in order to cut out anyone from abusing it and forcing vulnerable people into it, this must be achievable no?
I wouldn’t have much faith in the High Court which found the government’s referendum material to be unbiased. The Supreme Court judges unanimously upheld Mark McCrystal’s appeal so the HIgh Court isn’t exactly infallible. I wish this lady the best of luck, I’m deeply sorry that she has to go through this process.
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