Right-to-die man Tony Nicklinson dies a week after losing court battle.

Brennan · August 22, 2012

Tony Nicklinson, a man with locked-in syndrome who fought for the right to legally end his life, has died.

The 58-year-old was paralysed from the neck down after suffering a stroke in 2005 and described his life as a "living nightmare".

Last week Mr Nicklinson, from Melksham, Wiltshire, lost his High Court case to allow doctors to end his life.

Mr Nicklinson's family solicitor said that he had refused food from last week.

Lawyers for another man, 47, who lost his High Court case alongside Mr Nickinson, are to appeal against the decision.

They said it denied their client "the opportunity to take the necessary steps to end his own life".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19341722

Think it's a great shame that somebody was forced to starve themselves to stop unbearable mental and physical suffering in this day and age.

Deleted member 28206 · August 22, 2012

Should have been his own choice, as with anyone who wants to die.

bluejock · August 22, 2012

I'm happy for him and his family that he no longer spends every waking hour in a living hell.

Rest in peace big fella.

chrissyjack · August 22, 2012

It must have been awful for him to consider himself a burden on his family. If I was to become terminally ill, I would hate for my kids to watch me deteriorate. Having to starve himself could only have caused him more mental suffering, as the OP states. Whereas he could , or should, have been allowed to die with some dignity.

Rest in peace

neil999 · August 22, 2012

the law needs to be changed but i cant see a mainstream political party putting it in their manifesto through fear of lost votes

Del · August 22, 2012

Scares the life out of me this story

R.I.P

Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian · August 22, 2012

When it showed him on the telly as he was given the courts decision, is one of the most emotional things I've ever seen, the agony in his cries as he was told that he had to carry on 'living.'

I said earlier that he wasn't just in court for himself, but for others that may find themselves in the same position.
Maybe his reaction will have hit home with those that make and change the laws of the land.

Rest In Peace, after 7 years of being trapped you deserve it.

Big Fat Sam · August 22, 2012

Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian said:
When it showed him on the telly as he was given the courts decision, is one of the most emotional things I've ever seen, the agony in his cries as he was told that he had to carry on 'living.'

Aye, was pretty distressing watching that. An unbelievably sad story, may he rest in peace.

Elong · August 23, 2012

Del said:
Scares the life out of me this story

R.I.P

Me too. Bloody awful

angelwitch · August 23, 2012

It is so unfair that we cannot be the captains of our own destiny. Who gives the powers that be the right to judge over whether we live or die? If a dog is suffering it gets put down, but us? That law needs to be changed.

Fensta · August 23, 2012

Always thought it's hypocritical to put animals to sleep but not allow a human being with all their faculties about them to end it peacefully. Double standard.

RIP.

angelwitch · August 23, 2012

Fensta said:
Always thought it's hypocritical to put animals to sleep but not allow a human being with all their faculties about them to end it peacefully. Double standard.

RIP.

Is it not the age old ethical question of religion? That's what it boils down to. We still have swearing on bibles in court. I'm athiest, so what right does somebody have, if, say, that happened to me, to dictate wheather I live or die? Every man/women
should have the right to steer their own ship of destiny. The double standerd, yeah: its galling. I knew this couple who were waiting on their friend to die. She had cancer crawling out of her, a massive tumour where it should not be. The morphine failed to ease her agony anymore, yet she was made to suffer in torment for 2 weeks until her heart stopped with the pain. They would not have wanted her to die by euthanasia. I don't get it. A dog gets put down to ease their suffering - I've had to do it a few times with my own dogs - effing heart breaking as you don't want to lose em - but you have to, to end their suffering.