Anthony Nicklinson Analysis

Another personal story to consider is the story of Tony Nicklinson. Tony Nicklinson was 58 and he was a man physically unable to commit suicide, he took his ‘right-to-die’ case to the high court on 18th June 2012. Nicklinson suffered from ‘locked-in-syndrome’ following a stroke on a business trip to Athens in 2005 which meant that he was mentally sound but he was paralysed from the neck down and was unable to speak. Tony communicated with limited head movement and blinking and he described himself as having ‘No privacy or dignity left’. Tony said that he would have such a peace of mind knowing that he could determine his own life instead of the state telling him what he can do and saying that he will have to tolerate his suffering until he died of natural causes. …show more content…
In his court battle Tony’s barrister QC, Paul Bowen stated that Tony was condemned to an existence he did not wish to live and he also said ‘The law encourages those with the ability to go abroad to Switzerland where they meet their end. For those without the means it offers DIY suicide or continued suffering’. Tony Nicklinson wanted the right to end his pain and suffering and he made this decision to terminate his life with full mental capacity. The outcome of the court case was that Tony’s appeal to commit euthanasia was denied and 6 days following the verdict a devastated Tony died after refusing to eat and suffering from