Debbie Purdy
Encyclopedia
Debbie Purdy is a British political activist from Bradford
, West Yorkshire
, with multiple sclerosis
, notable for her challenge to the law
in England and Wales
as relates to assisted suicide
. On 20 September 2009, it was announced that guidelines on assisted suicide law will be published by the UK Government. The guidelines for England and Wales "come after a legal battle won by Debbie Purdy", as "Law Lords accepted earlier this year that [Purdy] had a right to know whether her husband would be prosecuted if he helped her to travel abroad to commit suicide."
QC argued that the Director of Public Prosecutions
(Ken Macdonald QC) is infringing on her human rights by failing to clarify how the Suicide Act 1961
is enforced.
The DPP counsel takes the position that the law does not require the DPP to make any further clarification of the Act, they argue that the Act and further information contained in the Code for Crown Prosecutors provides sufficient information.
Purdy's particular concern was to discover what, if any, actions her husband, Omar Puente
, takes in assisting her suicide would lead to his prosecution. The penalty for those who “aid, abet, counsel or procure the suicide of another” is a maximum of 14 years. No family member of the 92 Britons who have gone abroad for an assisted suicide has been prosecuted but some have been charged and have had to wait for months before hearing the charges have been dropped. Purdy says that if her husband would be exposed to prosecution for helping her travel to Switzerland
to a Dignitas
clinic to die, she would make the journey sooner whilst she is able to travel unassisted. This would save her husband from exposure to the law but also forces Purdy to make her decision on dying before she feels it is absolutely necessary.
The hearing began on October 2, 2008 and was complete soon after. The venue was the High Court of Justice
. It proceeded before Lord Justice Scott Baker
and Mr Justice Aikens. In court the DPP said that Purdy could not be given any reassurance that her husband would not be prosecuted as the law was clear that assisting suicide is an offence.
On 10 December 2008 Sky TV
broadcast a programme on which a man with motor neurone disease
was shown committing suicide with assistance. There had also been the UK case of a Mr James who went to Switzerland with the aid of his parents after being paralysed whilst playing rugby and the Department of Public Prosecutions determined that to prosecute the parents would be against the public interest. These two events led to the issue of assisted suicide making the first story on the BBC
's Newsnight
. Purdy appeared to debate the issue and denied that it is society that makes disabled people wish to kill themselves and reasserted her belief that it is right to be able to seek assistance when one is physically incapable of committing suicide oneself.
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, with multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
, notable for her challenge to the law
English law
English law is the legal system of England and Wales, and is the basis of common law legal systems used in most Commonwealth countries and the United States except Louisiana...
in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
as relates to assisted suicide
Assisted suicide
Assisted suicide is the common term for actions by which an individual helps another person voluntarily bring about his or her own death. "Assistance" may mean providing one with the means to end one's own life, but may extend to other actions. It differs to euthanasia where another person ends...
. On 20 September 2009, it was announced that guidelines on assisted suicide law will be published by the UK Government. The guidelines for England and Wales "come after a legal battle won by Debbie Purdy", as "Law Lords accepted earlier this year that [Purdy] had a right to know whether her husband would be prosecuted if he helped her to travel abroad to commit suicide."
Purdy's case
Debbie Purdy and her counsel David PannickDavid Pannick
David Philip Pannick, Baron Pannick QC is a leading barrister in the United Kingdom, and crossbencher in the House of Lords. He practises mainly in the areas of public law and human rights...
QC argued that the Director of Public Prosecutions
Director of Public Prosecutions
The Director of Public Prosecutions is the officer charged with the prosecution of criminal offences in several criminal jurisdictions around the world...
(Ken Macdonald QC) is infringing on her human rights by failing to clarify how the Suicide Act 1961
Suicide Act 1961
The Suicide Act 1961 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It decriminalised the act of suicide so that those who failed in the attempt would no longer be prosecuted....
is enforced.
The DPP counsel takes the position that the law does not require the DPP to make any further clarification of the Act, they argue that the Act and further information contained in the Code for Crown Prosecutors provides sufficient information.
Purdy's particular concern was to discover what, if any, actions her husband, Omar Puente
Omar Puente
Omar Puente is a Cuban-born violinist and jazz musician, currently living in England.He studied classical music at the Escuela Nacional de Arte in Havana from the age of 12 and then went on to make a career in classical music, studying at the Estaban Salas and then joining the Nacional Symphony...
, takes in assisting her suicide would lead to his prosecution. The penalty for those who “aid, abet, counsel or procure the suicide of another” is a maximum of 14 years. No family member of the 92 Britons who have gone abroad for an assisted suicide has been prosecuted but some have been charged and have had to wait for months before hearing the charges have been dropped. Purdy says that if her husband would be exposed to prosecution for helping her travel to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
to a Dignitas
Dignitas (euthanasia group)
Dignitas is a Swiss assisted dying group that helps those with terminal illness and severe physical and mental illnesses to die assisted by qualified doctors and nurses...
clinic to die, she would make the journey sooner whilst she is able to travel unassisted. This would save her husband from exposure to the law but also forces Purdy to make her decision on dying before she feels it is absolutely necessary.
The hearing began on October 2, 2008 and was complete soon after. The venue was the High Court of Justice
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
. It proceeded before Lord Justice Scott Baker
Scott Baker (judge)
Sir Thomas Scott Gillespie Baker , styled The Rt Hon. Lord Justice Scott Baker , is an English Court of Appeal judge....
and Mr Justice Aikens. In court the DPP said that Purdy could not be given any reassurance that her husband would not be prosecuted as the law was clear that assisting suicide is an offence.
On 10 December 2008 Sky TV
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
broadcast a programme on which a man with motor neurone disease
Motor neurone disease
The motor neurone diseases are a group of neurological disorders that selectively affect motor neurones, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing and general movement of the body. They are generally progressive in nature, and can cause...
was shown committing suicide with assistance. There had also been the UK case of a Mr James who went to Switzerland with the aid of his parents after being paralysed whilst playing rugby and the Department of Public Prosecutions determined that to prosecute the parents would be against the public interest. These two events led to the issue of assisted suicide making the first story on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Newsnight
Newsnight
Newsnight is a BBC Television current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians. Jeremy Paxman has been its main presenter for over two decades....
. Purdy appeared to debate the issue and denied that it is society that makes disabled people wish to kill themselves and reasserted her belief that it is right to be able to seek assistance when one is physically incapable of committing suicide oneself.