19 June 2008
In brief
A multiple sclerosis sufferer has won her fight to bring a High Court challenge to clarify the law on assisted suicide. Debbie Purdy wants to find out whether her husband would be prosecuted if he helps her travel abroad to commit suicide. Lord Justice Latham, sitting with Mr Justice Nelson, ruled that “without wishing to give Ms Purdy any optimism that her arguments will ultimately succeed”, she did have an arguable case. They gave her leave to challenge the reluctance by the Director of Public Prosecutions to spell out a clear policy on whether people might be prosecuted if they help loved ones die. Sir Ken Macdonald maintains there is no set policy for assisted suicide, and he cannot grant immunity from prosecution.
