High Court hearing for judicial review on assisted dying begins today
Noel Conway v Ministry of Justice case begins at Royal Courts of Justice, London, on Monday 17th July 2017, heard by three judges over four days.
Today (Monday 17th July 2017), a judicial review brought by a man with terminal motor neurone disease to challenge the current law on assisted dying is being heard at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. The Noel Conway v Ministry of Justice case, which is supported by Dignity in Dying, will be heard by three judges over four days.
Noel Conway, 67, a retired college lecturer from Shropshire, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a form of motor neurone disease (MND), in November 2014. His condition is incurable and he is not expected to live beyond the next 12 months. Noel feels that he is prevented from exercising his right to choice and control over his death under the current law. He fears that without a change in the law he may be forced to suffer against his wishes. Noel, supported by Dignity in Dying, has instructed law firm Irwin Mitchell to bring this case to fight for his right to have the option of an assisted death when he is in his final six months of life.
Noel said:
“I have always been in control of choices about my life, my health and my body. But as I enter my final months of life with a terminal disease, these rights have been taken away from me. I have lived my entire life on my own terms, yet in the face of intolerable suffering and an inevitable death, I am denied a real say over how and when I will die.
“My family and I have come to accept that I will die. But what I cannot accept is being forced to die either at the hands of MND or by taking drastic measures to end my own life. If I choose the former, I may be left completely paralysed and unable to communicate; that is if I don’t suffocate or choke to death first. If I choose the latter, my condition has deteriorated so far that I would need assistance – whether it be here at home or travelling to Dignitas in Switzerland – thereby opening up my loved ones to criminal prosecution. What kind of a choice is that?
“To have another choice - the option of an assisted death in this country - would provide me with great reassurance and comfort, as I am sure it would to many other terminally ill people, whether they chose it for themselves or not. It would allow me to live out the rest of my life and die on my own terms.
“In my eyes, the law simply must change. I look forward to my case receiving a full and proper hearing in the High Court this week.”
Christie Arntsen, 49, a former teaching assistant from Oxfordshire, is one of several witnesses who have provided written evidence to support Noel’s case. Christie was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in November 2013. It is incurable and Christie was told she had a 20% chance of surviving five years from diagnosis and a 5% chance of surviving 10 years.
Christie explained:
“I have coped with finding out I have secondary breast cancer, chemo, losing all my hair, surgery and radiotherapy. What I find so hard to cope with is that I have no choice about when and how long it will take me to die. Why can’t I go, when the time comes, as myself, and prevent the distress of the last few weeks or months of barely clinging on to life? The thought of my family watching me suffer as I slowly die is incredibly painful.
“I feel so disappointed that currently my only option is to go to Switzerland, but I am so afraid my family would be held responsible for my decision. If I chose Switzerland I would have to end my life earlier to make sure I was well enough to plan and make the journey myself.
“I am so grateful to Noel and his family for bringing assisted dying back into the foreground. I know that from my perspective my life would better if I knew I had a choice about when and where I die – it would make me want to live longer as I would know I was in control of when enough was enough. To me it is obvious that assisted dying should be an option available to terminally ill people; to have this choice is a fundamental human right.”
Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying, said:
“The current law is failing terminally ill people like Noel, Christie and thousands of others by denying them their dignity, stripping away their rights and freedoms and forcing them to choose between horrific scenarios most of us can hardly imagine. Dying people deserve better – they deserve our kindness and compassion; they deserve to be listened to.
“Allowing terminally ill people true choice and control at the end of life, including access to assisted dying under strict safeguards, would not be a step into the unknown. We know that legislation can work safely and effectively, as it has for 20 years in Oregon, USA, since extended to five other states. Canada has also implemented legislation and developments look likely in Australia this year. It is high time the UK took note and stopped lagging behind.
“We look forward to Noel’s case receiving the full and proper consideration it deserves throughout this week in the High Court. Dignity in Dying is behind Noel all the way and we are indebted to him, all those who have provided evidence and the thousands of people who have lent their support.”
Noel’s solicitor Yogi Amin, partner and head of public law and human rights at Irwin Mitchell, added:
“Noel would like the choice to be able to die with dignity. The world has changed phenomenally in the past few decades with many medical advances but the law on assisted dying for those who are terminally ill hasn’t changed for more than 50 years.
“Three judges will hear his case in the High Court over four days which shows the level of importance this Judicial Review has. The Court will be considering detailed evidence and legal arguments about whether a blanket ban breaches our Human Rights law.”
