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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| St Annes businessman Jeffrey Spector dies at Dignitas | St Annes businessman Jeffrey Spector dies at Dignitas |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A British father-of-three who feared he would be paralysed by an inoperable tumour has died at the Dignitas centre in Switzerland. | A British father-of-three who feared he would be paralysed by an inoperable tumour has died at the Dignitas centre in Switzerland. |
| Businessman Jeffrey Spector, 54, of St Annes, Lancashire, died on Friday following a six-year illness. | Businessman Jeffrey Spector, 54, of St Annes, Lancashire, died on Friday following a six-year illness. |
| He was surrounded by friends and family at a meal before his death at the centre, which aids accompanied suicide. | |
| His wife Elaine and three daughters said they were consumed by grief but respected his decision. | |
| The family said in a statement: "Whilst we are now in a state of all consuming grief and miss Jeffrey very much, we also recognise that he is now at peace and away from the fear which surrounded him in the last few weeks of his life. | |
| "Jeffrey ended his life with dignity and control which was his overwhelming desire." | |
| Hotel conversation | Hotel conversation |
| In an interview with the Blackpool Gazette last week, Mr Spector said: "If I am paralysed and can't speak, send me to the spirit world." | |
| He reportedly said the condition was affecting his nervous system. | |
| Journalist David Graham told BBC Radio Lancashire he had spoken to Mr Spector at his hotel near the clinic in Zurich. | Journalist David Graham told BBC Radio Lancashire he had spoken to Mr Spector at his hotel near the clinic in Zurich. |
| Mr Graham said Mr Spector, a director of an advertising agency, had had a series of consultations with leading surgeons across the UK. | Mr Graham said Mr Spector, a director of an advertising agency, had had a series of consultations with leading surgeons across the UK. |
| "He had one operation which failed and I think that spurred him on the Dignitas route," said Mr Graham. | "He had one operation which failed and I think that spurred him on the Dignitas route," said Mr Graham. |
| "He became a member of Dignitas some years ago… where you have to pay an annual fee… [so] this was in his mind for some time. Obviously it has also been in the mind of his three daughters and his wife." | "He became a member of Dignitas some years ago… where you have to pay an annual fee… [so] this was in his mind for some time. Obviously it has also been in the mind of his three daughters and his wife." |
| Mr Graham said Mr Spector's wife Elaine had dealt with his wishes and the media coverage of his death in "an extremely dignified manner". | Mr Graham said Mr Spector's wife Elaine had dealt with his wishes and the media coverage of his death in "an extremely dignified manner". |
| 'Completely wrong' | |
| In England and Wales, the Suicide Act 1961 makes it an offence to encourage or assist a suicide or a suicide attempt. | In England and Wales, the Suicide Act 1961 makes it an offence to encourage or assist a suicide or a suicide attempt. |
| However, former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer has told the BBC he will attempt to reintroduce a bill that would allow assisted dying in the UK. | However, former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer has told the BBC he will attempt to reintroduce a bill that would allow assisted dying in the UK. |
| He said it was "completely wrong" terminally ill people did not have the option to end their life. | He said it was "completely wrong" terminally ill people did not have the option to end their life. |
| Lord Falconer said the legislation, if passed, would allow someone diagnosed with six months or less to live who wished to take their own life and was capable of making that decision could be provided with a prescription of drugs they could take in order to end their own life. | Lord Falconer said the legislation, if passed, would allow someone diagnosed with six months or less to live who wished to take their own life and was capable of making that decision could be provided with a prescription of drugs they could take in order to end their own life. |
| He said: "Whatever your take on the subject it should be debated." | He said: "Whatever your take on the subject it should be debated." |
| Last year the Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, clarified assisted suicide guidelines, making the prosecution of health professionals less likely. | Last year the Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, clarified assisted suicide guidelines, making the prosecution of health professionals less likely. |
| However, in April, disability rights campaigners who said assisted suicide policy was too "liberal" won permission to bring a legal challenge to her policy. | However, in April, disability rights campaigners who said assisted suicide policy was too "liberal" won permission to bring a legal challenge to her policy. |
| Dignitas, which said it aided "accompanied suicide", often described as assisted suicide, has not commented specifically on the case. | Dignitas, which said it aided "accompanied suicide", often described as assisted suicide, has not commented specifically on the case. |
| The charity, founded in 1998, said: "The main work of Dignitas is not assistance in dying but in fact suicide preventive work, above all suicide-attempt-prevention work in a broad sense." | The charity, founded in 1998, said: "The main work of Dignitas is not assistance in dying but in fact suicide preventive work, above all suicide-attempt-prevention work in a broad sense." |