I’d think I’d rather be dead too if I had locked in syndrome

Very sad, would it be possible to bring him abroad and have it done there?

A very sad case. Unfortunately the judges can only make their ruling according to the law as it stands, even when the law is an ass.

Lets hope new legislation is introduced soon to allow for planned death with dignity in cases like this.

Disgusting that people are forced to endure lives of misery and pain like this. Is it really any different than what people regularly call barbaric practises in the east ? Misery and suffering inflicted on people to satisfy others sense of morality ?. This man has done nothing to deserve this suffering yet must endure it for the sake of other people consciences. And anyone who would help him would be condemned. Amazing.

This man should be granted his wishes.

Anyone who is against this man making his own choice to end his own life needs to have a dose of pancuronium to see life in his shoes.

Is it time for a referendum on this subject in countries like the UK and Ireland?

Anecdotally the vast majority of people would support allowing for death with dignity.

Why should one person’s so-called ‘morality’ force another person to continue suffering?

It is generally accepted by society that we should end the life of an animal to ease its suffering (read the Baltimore whale threads) but in the case of humans we insist that their suffering must continue! Where is the morality in that??

Exactly, Mattoid. We can take pity on an animal’s suffering and euthanise it, but when a human no longer wishes to put themselves and their family through any type of suffering such as Tony’s, it’s suddenly oh-so wrong.

Poor man. It’s impossible to imagine why they want him to continue like this. :-(

my dad is very sick and doctors said two years ago he had less than 50% chance of surviving more than one year. As it is he can move and all physically and is in sound state of mind but cant walk and needs someone there nearly all the time as hes in the final stage of emphysemia. I would hate to think that if it got to the stage he found life so unberable there would be nothing we as a family could do for him.

I watched the Channel 4 doc on this, bloody heartbreaking stuff, I see no problem allow it as long as the person is proved shane and has undergone appropriate tests/assessment. This man should be allowed end his life if he wishes at this stage

This is so heart breaking, something needs to be done about this, I don’t think an appeal will work either.. Time for a referendum on euthanasia in Ireland and the UK.

That’s just horrific!

He should be allowed to die providing that is his absolute wish and not forced by duress by people around him who think they know more about his suffering then he does.

In his documentary he said that if he couldn’t legally die assisted then he will starve himself to death. Unfortunately if the judges allow him to die then other cases down the line could use this case as the test to perhaps get a person away with murder who is claiming assisted suicide.Heartbreaking stuff.

If we are allowed to put an animal out of its misery then why should humans be allowed suffer if there is no cure and they will never lead a normal life.. It just doesn’t seem right

I truly feel sorry for this man. As a complete hypochondriac I can’t evennimagine his suffering.nnHowever, a lot of posters refer to the moral argument against assisted suicide. But I don’t think that’s why people would oppose this. I think it’s more to do with the wider policy implications – where do we draw the line in assisting people to die? How do we ensure that it remains voluntary? What happens to society’s view of illness if we go down this road? Do we lose respect for life? The editor of the Journal of Medical Ethics has just written about the moral obligation of parents to genetically screen their pregnancies to weed out weaknesses, personality disorders etc. All of these issues have wider, ethical and public policy implications which have never really been debated. nn

I have put money aside to be taken to Zurich if such circumstances occur. I have also got the agreement of both my sons that they will give every assistance, and to hell with the law. It’s my life and I’ll live it and end it as I think fit.

A very sad story.

I can see the judges being right to defend the law – as it stands!
However, the law clearly need to be re-looked at in regards to these matters.
I further suspect then that if the law was changed, the judges would have no problem (hopefully) in deciding for the poor suffering man.

Many people fight and argue for the right to life but few address the right to a dignified death. It has been this man’s life and no-one else’s. By telling someone that they can’t choose their own death the law basically stakes a claim of ownership on that person’s life. Illogical and cruel.

The only way this man can end his own life in Britain, is if he starves himself. How the hell is that fair??
It’s absolutely ridiculous that someone can override this man’s perfectly sane decision, just because he can’t physically do it himself.

Just a quick comment in regard to Una’s point, while I understand that your sentiment is based out of thoughtful reasoning I fear in this case you may be misguided for two reasons in my opinion… Firstly you have to see it from the person with the condition who has lived it for several years and has obviously come to this decision rationally over the span of all that time in conjunction with his loved ones, I don’t think there could be a more considered and well informed approach to a decision taken… And point two relates to the fact that there is no demonstrable evidence to suggest that there is anything other than an extinguishment of life when we die and therefore no suffering would be experienced, I deeply hope that self responsibility and judgement will finally be returned to people from government as it should be in many guises throughout the legal system, if indeed we are to fulfil our potential as truly empathetic and caring human beings..

Regards

Absolutely disgraceful! Typical Christian bullshit: better to suffer than take one’s life. >:-(
This man has clearly had enough, if I were in his shoes I would rather die as well.

This must be heartbreaking for both himself and his family . Almost as bad as the condition itself. If he has made the decision on how and when he wants his life to end why should the any one else have the right to stop him .it is not as though it was something he decided on a whim

the poor man is suffering ,, who gets to decide , ,maybe the doctors shoudnt intervene in the first place and have let him have a natural death when he had the stroke , another person may be delighted that they can communicate using assistive technology

i do understand that a doctor is all cases cant be expected to go against his oath to help people no matter what but i feel awful for this man.

If the law does not change i hope that at least stem cells and medical advancement can help him.

every moment of his life is a nightmare

my heart goes out to that poor man and his loved ones to see the sheer horror in his face when he was told he lost his case its cruel I hope he finds some peace of mind.Once a person is that clear on what he wants he should be given the help he needs if i where in the same position as him i would like the option of an assisted suicide it may not be for everyone but everyone deals with things differently Tony ur in my thoughts

Mercy!

That is horrendous, poor man.

tough one to call for the poor man but i suppose the judges have no right to decide whether he lives or dies either

”You don’t know Jack” is a great film featuring Al Pacino on this subject.

If you have right to live, it follows that you have a right to die,

Sad story, Could they not go to Switzerland?

This man is in an awful awful situation but when making a choice to live or die how can you make an informed decision when no one actually knows what happens when you die. Maybe death is much worse than living in paralysis. At least his mind is still active and maybe he can still have small moments of happiness with his family. I’m not trying to belittle his disease I’m just trying to point out that no one actually knows what they are choosing when they choose death. So how can you say you’d prefer that when you don’t know what you’re actually choosing? It’s just something that I think people don’t really think about.

Ok everyone hears that, such is the law and thumbs up here won’t change a thing for this man. Why do they even bother with courts, waste of time. They already turned down other people with same appeals then even for that fact, they wont make exception for him – politicians and judges fear that word the most – inconsistency and precedense. He has to reconsider his position and decide for Swiss job. I get his point why to not to, but its clearly pointless fight, then… Very sad situation, unthinkable.

I heard the real reason the judgement disallowed his plea was they were worried it would open up the floodgates for all British men to claim the same torture merely from having to live in the UK.

Wallace defending the church ! ! Must be one of the little church boys !