Tony Nicklinson loses High Court right to die case

Posted 16/08/2012

A man paralysed from the neck down following a serious stroke has lost his High Court case to allow doctors to end his life without fear of prosecution. Tony Nicklinson, 58 from Wiltshire, communicates by blinking and has described his life as a “living nightmare” since the stroke in 2005.This 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.Julie Crossley, a medical injury lawyer at Ashtons Legal commented: “These cases are tragic, but the law remains clear that it is unlawful to assist someone to end their life and those that do could face prosecution.”