LONDON – Locked-in syndrome sufferer Tony Nicklinson (58) was left “devastated and heartbroken” yesterday after losing a British high court battle for the legal right to end his life when he chooses with a doctor’s help.
Mr Nicklinson’s wife, Jane, said: “You can see from Tony’s reaction he’s absolutely heartbroken.”
They plan to appeal against the decision, and hope they will be able to organise a hearing before the end of the year.
A second victim of locked-in syndrome, referred to as “Martin” (47), who cannot be identified, said through his lawyers that he now felt “even more frustrated and angry” after also losing his challenge to the legal ban on assisted dying.
Three judges sitting in London referred to the “terrible predicament” of Mr Nicklinson and Martin, and described their cases as “deeply moving and tragic”.
Mr Nicklinson, from Melksham, Wiltshire, was left paralysed by a stroke while on a business trip to Athens in 2005.
The court heard that he had been told his existence of “pure torture” could continue – if a doctor could not help end it – for another 20 years or more. – (PA)