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| Woman set for suicide appeal bid | Woman set for suicide appeal bid |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A woman with multiple sclerosis is urging the House of Lords to clarify the law on assisted suicide. | A woman with multiple sclerosis is urging the House of Lords to clarify the law on assisted suicide. |
| Debbie Purdy, from Bradford, plans to go abroad to end her life but fears her husband may be prosecuted if he helps. | Debbie Purdy, from Bradford, plans to go abroad to end her life but fears her husband may be prosecuted if he helps. |
| The law states it is illegal to help anyone commit suicide, but no-one has been charged over helping someone go to Swiss clinic Dignitas to die. | The law states it is illegal to help anyone commit suicide, but no-one has been charged over helping someone go to Swiss clinic Dignitas to die. |
| The two-day hearing which starts on Tuesday represents the 45-year-old's last chance in the UK legal system. | The two-day hearing which starts on Tuesday represents the 45-year-old's last chance in the UK legal system. |
| She has already lost High and Appeal court cases and if she loses this challenge the only option open to her would be to go to the European Court of Human Rights. | She has already lost High and Appeal court cases and if she loses this challenge the only option open to her would be to go to the European Court of Human Rights. |
| Ms Purdy is one of 800 British people who have become members of Dignitas in case they should want to take their own life. | |
| Later this week the former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer will table an amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill to lift the threat of prosecution facing those who help somebody kill themselves overseas. | |
| It is incredible that the law is not clear and that is all I am asking for Debbie Purdy | It is incredible that the law is not clear and that is all I am asking for Debbie Purdy |
| Ms Purdy was diagnosed with primary progressive MS in 1995 and is now losing strength in her upper body. She has been in a wheelchair since 2001. | Ms Purdy was diagnosed with primary progressive MS in 1995 and is now losing strength in her upper body. She has been in a wheelchair since 2001. |
| She has said that if she cannot be 100% certain that her husband, Omar Puente, would not face criminal charges she would have to go to Switzerland earlier than she wanted to. | She has said that if she cannot be 100% certain that her husband, Omar Puente, would not face criminal charges she would have to go to Switzerland earlier than she wanted to. |
| Her legal team has asked for full details on how the Director of Public Prosecutions office makes its decision on when to prosecute. | Her legal team has asked for full details on how the Director of Public Prosecutions office makes its decision on when to prosecute. |
| But High Court judges ruled in October that it was impossible to offer case-by-case guidance - a stance supported by the appeal court in February. | But High Court judges ruled in October that it was impossible to offer case-by-case guidance - a stance supported by the appeal court in February. |
| Travel | Travel |
| Ms Purdy said: "It is incredible that the law is not clear and that is all I am asking for. I still don't know under what circumstances he would be prosecuted. | Ms Purdy said: "It is incredible that the law is not clear and that is all I am asking for. I still don't know under what circumstances he would be prosecuted. |
| "Can he buy me a ticket to travel? Can he push my wheelchair?" | "Can he buy me a ticket to travel? Can he push my wheelchair?" |
| It is not the first time the issue has been raised in the courts. | It is not the first time the issue has been raised in the courts. |
| In 2001 Diane Pretty, who had motor neurone disease, failed to get immunity from prosecution for her husband if he helped her to die in the UK. | In 2001 Diane Pretty, who had motor neurone disease, failed to get immunity from prosecution for her husband if he helped her to die in the UK. |
| Several attempts to legalise suicide in Britain have also been rejected. | Several attempts to legalise suicide in Britain have also been rejected. |
| In England and Wales, aiding or abetting a suicide is a crime punishable by up to 14 years' imprisonment. | In England and Wales, aiding or abetting a suicide is a crime punishable by up to 14 years' imprisonment. |
| It is expected to be several weeks before a ruling is made public. | It is expected to be several weeks before a ruling is made public. |