Terminally ill ‘should have right to die’

The issue of whether people have the right to legally end their life was raised with the courts last year.

Tony Nicklinson, a man with locked-in syndrome, was refused the right to die at a time of his choosing with the help of a doctor by the High Court.

Now Paul Lamb, who is paralysed, has been granted permission to take up the legal appeal.

Mr Nicklinson's widow Jane has also won permission to continue her husband’s challenge. The two cases will be heard in the Court of Appeal next month.

Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying, said:

“Dignity in Dying is calling for a change in the law to allow dying adults the choice of an assisted death, within safeguards. Mr Lamb is not terminally ill, and so, while we have huge sympathy with Mr Lamb and his situation, his case falls outside of our remit.

“Dignity in Dying believes that terminally ill, mentally competent people should have the choice of an assisted death, and is confident that this can be safeguarded – that’s where we draw the line, other people will disagree, and that’s a question for society.

“Nevertheless, we do believe that Mr Lamb’s case raises important questions for society and it’s positive that these issues are being debated.

“We look forward to seeing how the case and the debate progresses in the coming months.”

Disability rights group Scope also raised concerns about the risk to disabled people if legislation were changed.

"We must avoid any temptation to change assisted suicide laws based on a couple of undeniably heart-wrenching and tragic cases," chief executive Richard Hawkes told the BBC.