UK News 19-10-2001 Pretty Denied Right-to-Die who: Motor neurone disease victim Diane Pretty what: Told that here husband cannot help her to commit suicide where: The High Court, LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: "A terminally ill woman lost her case in the High Court yesterday that she be allowed an assisted suicide so that she could die with dignity," reports The Times. "In the first case of its kind," continues legal editor Frances Gibb, "Diane Pretty, 42, who was in court in her wheelchair for the decision, had asked the courts to pave the way for her husband to help her to end her life before her disease runs its course." "Mrs Pretty was diagnosed as having motor neurone disease in 1999," explains The Evening Standard, "and the condition, which has deteriorated rapidly, has left her paralysed from the neck down and with virtually no ability to speak, although her intellect remains unimpaired." Under the Suicide Act of 1961, it is no longer illegal in Britain to commit suicide, but it is an offence to "aid, abet, counsel or procure" suicide. Although they sympathised with her plight, the three judges - Lord Justice Tuckey, Lady Justice Hale and Mr Justice Silber - said that this law would not allow them to grant husband Brian the right end her agony. "We are going to take it to the House of Lords and she`s going to carry on fighting," said her husband after the ruling. Mrs Pretty could muster just one word: "Angry". [... more]

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