RalphC Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 "A man paralysed from the neck down has lost his High Court case to allow doctors to end his life without fear of prosecution. Tony Nicklinson, 58, from Melksham, Wiltshire, communicates by blinking and has described his life as a "living nightmare" since a stroke in 2005. Mr Nicklinson said he would appeal against the decision. The case went further than previous challenges to the law in England and Wales on assisted suicide and murder. Another man, known only as Martin, who is 47, also lost his case to end his life with medical help. Father-of-two Mr Nicklinson was left paralysed with locked-in syndrome after a catastrophic stroke while on a business trip to Athens. He said he was "devastated" by the court's decision. "Although I didn't want to raise my hopes, it happened anyway because a fantastic amount of work went into my case and I thought that if the court saw me as I am, utterly miserable with my life, powerless to do anything about it because of my disability then the judges would accept my reasoning that I do not want to carry on and should be able to have a dignified death. "I am saddened that the law wants to condemn me to a life of increasing indignity and misery."" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hookey Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 I think they are frightened of the precedent it will set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 It's a slippery slope. Once they get the right to die, you can guarantee that it will be abused: 'Aunt Hatty's been a bit mental the last few years...never mind, she's loaded, so time to cash in on the old cow.' I am so glad that I'm not retarded (though some might beg to differ), in a wheel chair and never been sectioned. If I was in any of those categories, I would be worried that I could be legally done away with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Part Time Par Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 I appreciate all that has been said above, however, the facts are that if you have a pet animal that is unwell you can have it put down. This is a clear case of human cruelty. The gentleman has no life, and cannot do anything apart from blink.This also must be having a detrimental effect on his family as well. Then there is the costs of keeping him alive. Medical time, apparatus, medication. What happens if he lives for another 50 years (I couldn't even imagine what this man must be going through, just every day things that we all take for granted - like a simple scratch of the nose say) Why is it in this country that we give more rights to animals than human beings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_W Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Agree 100%. Really feel sorry for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 If he doesn't want to live, which I accept as his legal right, then he's only got to say to his wife 'please don't feed me or give me anything to drink.' I do deeply sympathise with Tony, and I would not wish his condition on anybody. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munchkin Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 I appreciate all that has been said above, however, the facts are that if you have a pet animal that is unwell you can have it put down. This is a clear case of human cruelty. The gentleman has no life, and cannot do anything apart from blink.This also must be having a detrimental effect on his family as well. Then there is the costs of keeping him alive. Medical time, apparatus, medication. What happens if he lives for another 50 years (I couldn't even imagine what this man must be going through, just every day things that we all take for granted - like a simple scratch of the nose say) Why is it in this country that we give more rights to animals than human beings? Well said. For me there is a distinct difference between someone being able to express a wish to die due to a condition and someone claiming on their behalf. No person has the right to determine what this man's quality of life is, our current legislation is purely designed to protect against murder covered up as suicide, whilst equally ignoring the wishes of people in these conditions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munchkin Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Forgot to add, I recently read the book "Engage" by Matt Hampson who was paralysed from the neck down. He deals with this situation in the book about the comparison between people who have similar conditions and choose to die. explaining why he understood why another rugby player chose this by going to dignitas. To me it emphasised how it is the choice of that person and it must take an incredible amount of courage to choose that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Forgot to add, I recently read the book "Engage" by Matt Hampson who was paralysed from the neck down. He deals with this situation in the book about the comparison between people who have similar conditions and choose to die. explaining why he understood why another rugby player chose this by going to dignitas. To me it emphasised how it is the choice of that person and it must take an incredible amount of courage to choose that. It all depends on a person's character, as to whether they are prepared to fight on or just cave in. I am forever amazed and impressed at the strength shown by Def Leppard's drummer Rick Allen, who lost his arm in a car accident in 1984. Not only did he decide that life was worth living and that he could contribute to the band through use of a modified drum kit, but only two years after the accident he was back playing with them live at Donington and a year later they released possibly their best ever album - 'Hysteria.' If he can lose an arm, and yet still be considered as one of the best drummers in popular music today, then it shows that anybody - disabled or not - can achieve great things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastside Urchin Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Where do you draw the line though,its impossible to get it right all the time.Not every case will be done with the best intentions,while harsh I think its the right decision,just Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munchkin Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Forgot to add, I recently read the book "Engage" by Matt Hampson who was paralysed from the neck down. He deals with this situation in the book about the comparison between people who have similar conditions and choose to die. explaining why he understood why another rugby player chose this by going to dignitas. To me it emphasised how it is the choice of that person and it must take an incredible amount of courage to choose that. It all depends on a person's character, as to whether they are prepared to fight on or just cave in. That was exactly his point though, it shouldnt be seen as caving in. He felt the person who chose to die was just as brave as the one who didn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missunderstood Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 I wonder how much influence the catholic church and other god bothers had in this case. It seems odd to me that a decent man who has the most noblest of reasons for want to end his life doesn't have equal human rights with murders and paedophiles who are legally deemed to a right to life. If he is of sound mind of coarse he has the right to a dignified death at the time of his choosing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Well I am a Christian (although I don't attend mass) and certainly don't think religion can be attributed as a factor. Aren't we a non-Christian nation anyway, due to fear of being politically incorrect? The worry is that by introducing the right to die law, that you will introduce a slippery slope in the future. Take abortion, for instance: When abortion was first introduced it could only be done if absolutely essential. Nowadays, an abortion can be done without any reason at all. Tony already has the right to die - he doesn't have to eat/drink or he could always get somebody to push him off a cliff. He just wants ' a nice painless way out.' As a side comment, I wonder if Wiltshire Police would ever investigate if he was found murdered? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 I remember in Eastenders there was a story-line some time back where Dot Cotton suffocated her friend Ethel Skinner who wanted to die, it was very hard hitting and I can't quite remember what happened to Dot but she certainly wasn't charged with murder and unceremoniously thrown inside Holloway prison to rot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missunderstood Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Well I am a Christian (although I don't attend mass) and certainly don't think religion can be attributed as a factor. Aren't we a non-Christian nation anyway, due to fear of being politically incorrect? The worry is that by introducing the right to die law, that you will introduce a slippery slope in the future. Take abortion, for instance: When abortion was first introduced it could o As a side comment, I wonder if Wiltshire Police would ever investigate if he was found murdered? If he was pushed off a cliff it would be murder, so of coarse Wiltshire police would investigate. With regards to comments about religion not being a factor, the catholic church has campaigned for more years than I can remember to abolish the rights of woman to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. What a shame they didnt spend as much time and energy in preventing the child abuse and paedophilia that has been so prevalent amongst Roman Catholic priests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 You'll find abuse against children in most religions, Alan, it's just that it's always easy to have a go at the Christian faith as they 'turn the other cheek.' Personally, I would execute anybody - no matter what religion - who molests a child. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big J R Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 You'll find abuse against children in most religions, Alan, it's just that it's always easy to have a go at the Christian faith as they 'turn the other cheek.' Personally, I would execute anybody - no matter what religion - who molests a child. WE AGREE AGAIN, ADAM ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUFC Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 "A man paralysed from the neck down has lost his High Court case to allow doctors to end his life without fear of prosecution. Tony Nicklinson, 58, from Melksham, Wiltshire, communicates by blinking and has described his life as a "living nightmare" since a stroke in 2005. Mr Nicklinson said he would appeal against the decision. The case went further than previous challenges to the law in England and Wales on assisted suicide and murder. Another man, known only as Martin, who is 47, also lost his case to end his life with medical help. Father-of-two Mr Nicklinson was left paralysed with locked-in syndrome after a catastrophic stroke while on a business trip to Athens. He said he was "devastated" by the court's decision. "Although I didn't want to raise my hopes, it happened anyway because a fantastic amount of work went into my case and I thought that if the court saw me as I am, utterly miserable with my life, powerless to do anything about it because of my disability then the judges would accept my reasoning that I do not want to carry on and should be able to have a dignified death. "I am saddened that the law wants to condemn me to a life of increasing indignity and misery."" it's always easy to have a go at the Christian faith as they 'turn the other cheek.' said the Priest to the Choirboy.................. FFS if he wants to top himself send the missus to super drug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mayor Of Simpleton Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Not too sure a visit to Superdrug will do anything. There are easier ways, if he wants to die - he's only got to take sleeping pills and vodka/whiskey or eat a few castor beans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hookey Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 Tony Nicklinson has sadly/mercifully passed away having refuse food since last week. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19341722 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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