The family of Tony Nicklinson, a paralysed right-to-die campaigner, has expressed frustration over the lack of legislative change on assisted dying laws 12 years after his death. His daughter, Lauren Peters, says her father would be “absolutely livid” over the continued failure to expand the laws, which still only cover terminally ill individuals.
Nicklinson, who suffered a catastrophic stroke while on a business trip, was left fully paralysed and unable to communicate except with his eyes and head. In 2012, shortly before his death, the High Court denied his request for a doctor-assisted death, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court. The court ruled that the issue was a matter for Parliament, citing concerns about the potential risks of coercion for vulnerable individuals.
Speaking to the press, Peters questioned the delay in addressing this issue. “How much more suffering does there need to be before people realise that there is a need for change?” she said. “Dad would be livid, absolutely livid, and he would make sure everyone knew about it.”
A new bill on assisted dying, expected to be introduced this week, will likely propose to legalise assisted dying only for people who are terminally ill with a prognosis of six months or less. However, Peters and other advocates argue that this fails to address the needs of individuals like her father, who were not terminally ill but suffered unbearably from an incurable condition.
Peters, along with the campaign group My Death, My Decision, has signed a letter calling for the inclusion of adults who are “suffering unbearably” from a non-terminal condition. They advocate for a system that allows people to make the decision to end their suffering, provided they are of sound mind and have a clear, settled wish to die.
While supporters of assisted dying hope that the proposed bill will offer much-needed relief, opponents, including the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, argue that such changes could pressure vulnerable individuals into ending their lives to avoid being a burden on loved ones.
Alistair Thompson from the Care Not Killing group also warned against setting a precedent for expanding the scope of assisted dying laws, pointing to examples in countries like the Netherlands, Belgium, and Canada, where legalised euthanasia has broadened to include people with mental health issues, such as eating disorders, PTSD, and depression.
Peters, however, is hopeful that a well-regulated system could protect both individuals seeking assistance and those vulnerable to coercion. “I like to think there are intelligent people in this country who can devise a system that supports people like Dad while protecting those who need protecting,” she said, pointing to successful models abroad.
As the debate over assisted dying laws continues, both sides are urging Parliament to take a long, hard look at the issue, ensuring that the needs of all individuals are met without compromising safeguards for the most vulnerable.
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