Euthanasia campaigners lost bid in Britain’s highest court

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The right to die campaigners have lost their appeal at the Britain’s highest court over the severely disabled individuals to get the right to have assisted suicide on Wednesday.

Supreme Court judges have rejected the appeal brought by a former builder Paul Lamb and Jane Nicklinson by a majority of seven to two after a hearing in December.

However, the campaigners are still hopeful for a positive change in the law despite the current ruling.

Mr Lamb of Leeds, who became paralysed after a road accident more than 20 years ago, had wanted the court to rule that disabled people should have the right to be helped to die with dignity.

The case was also brought by Mrs Nicklinson, whose husband Tony of Wiltshire, who had locked-in syndrome and died nearly a couple of years ago.

The court had been asked to decide whether a prohibition on assisted suicide – in the 1961 Suicide Act, which makes helping others to end their lives a crime – was compatible with the right to respect for private and family life enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights.

Five of the nine justices concluded that the court had the “constitutional authority” to declare that a general prohibition on assisted suicide was incompatible with the human right to private and family life. Two of those five said they would have made such a declaration.

Mr Lamb and Mrs Nicklinson, both 58, said those conclusions were a “positive” move in the fight for change of ruling.

Mr Lamb has indicated: “There is about 80% people in favour. Common people. They have got to be listened to.”

Richard Hawkes, of disability charity Scope has said: “Many disabled people will be reassured by this ruling. The current law against assisted suicide works.

“It sends a powerful message countering the view that if you’re disabled it’s not worth being alive, and that you’re a burden. It’s a view that is all too common.

“We are deeply concerned that a change in the law will lead to disabled people feeling under pressure to end their lives.”

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