A woman suffering from multiple sclerosis has made legal history by winning her battle to have the law on assisted suicide clarified. Debbie Purdy, 46, from Bradford, UK may go to Switzerland to end her life but feared her husband could be held responsible for helping her. No one has been prosecuted for assisting someone's death, however the current law says they could potentially face 14 years in prison. The Law "Lords" said that the law was not as clear and straightforward as it should be.

They said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) must prepare a specific policy identifying facts and circumstances which he would take into account when deciding whether or not to prosecute in cases like Debbie Purdy's. She said she would like to see the policy clarify between "what is acceptable and what isn't" so people in situations like hers could make decisions about what to do. The permanent policy will then be published next spring.

Ms Purdy was diagnosed with primary progressive MS in March 1995. She can no longer walk and is gradually losing strength in her upper body. She has suggested that at some point she may travel to Switzerland to take a lethal dose of barbiturates prescribed by doctors at the controversial Dignitas organization. More than 100 UK citizens have so far ended their lives at Dignitas, and no one who has accompanied them has ever been prosecuted on their return to the UK.

The reasons why legal action has not been taken have never been made clear. Ms Purdy had previously said that if the law were not clarified, she would have had to end her life earlier than she wanted to. The ruling is significant because it draws a line between maliciously encouraging someone to commit suicide and compassionately supporting someone's decision to die. No one should suffer if they do not have to. Ms Purdy has indeed made history and life much easier for people who share a similar predicament.


By: Frank Bilotta