Locked-In Syndrome Victim Dies Aged 58

**bb1** Wed Aug 22, 2012 11:56 am

http://news.sky.com/story/975676/locked-in-syndrome-victim-dies-aged-58

Tony Nicklinson, who lost a legal battle last week for the right to end his life with medical help, has died at the age of 58.

Lawyers for Mr Nicklinson said he died at his home in Melksham, Trowbridge, at around 10am on Wednesday.

In a brief statement, Bindmans LLP said: "This is to notify you of the sad death of Tony Nicklinson at approximately 10am this morning."

A tweet posted on his Twitter page read: "You may already know, my Dad died peacefully this morning of natural causes. He was 58."

Last week, the High Court rejected Mr Nicklinson's legal battle for the right to die with medical help.

His wife Jane described the decision as "one-sided", and said at the time they intended to appeal.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said the force would not be investigation his death.

"Police are not involved at all. We can confirm he passed away and it is not a matter for Wiltshire Police," he said.

"His death certificate has been signed by a doctor, so it is not a matter for Wiltshire Police or the coroner."

More follows...

**Pedro Silva** Wed Aug 22, 2012 12:26 pm

RIP Tony Nicklinson.

**bb1** Wed Aug 22, 2012 12:36 pm

The problem was, he didn't want a machine turned off, Pedro, he wanted someone to actively kill him, which is another matter entirely.

It would seem he left a message on his twitter account before he died:

Just hours before his death was announced by his legal team, a poignant final message had been posted on Mr Nicklinson's Twitter feed which read: 'Goodbye world the time has come, I had some fun'.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2191944/Goodbye-world-time-come-Final-message-locked-syndrome-sufferer-Tony-Nicklinson-58-died-home-just-days-High-Court-ruled-ask-doctors-end-life.html#ixzz24H2HOgpJ

I doubt if we will ever know what happened at the end, and it's probably best that we don't; Mr Nicklinson has left his pain, now.

I personally think it should never, ever be legal for doctors to deliberately end life; it's a grey area just now, and maybe that's the way it should stay.

If it became legal, how long would it take for doctors to be 'persuaded' to end the lives of infirm people whose relatives couldn't wait for nature to take its course because they wanted to get their paws on their inheritance?

**Pedro Silva** Wed Aug 22, 2012 12:43 pm

Oh, I understand your words bb1:

"The problem was, he didn't want a machine turned off, Pedro, he wanted someone to actively kill him, which is another matter entirely", in that case, better not do what he wanted.

This avoids problems with Law against the responsible for the patient.

**bb1** Wed Aug 22, 2012 12:52 pm

I know, Pedro, it's a very difficult decision for a judge to have to make, but on balance, IMO, he made the right one.

It's one thing turning off a life support machine, but quite another deliberately killing someone.

Stephen Hawking is similarly trapped in his body:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking

but no-one would ever dream of saying his life was worthless.

It's a terribly difficult decision, but I do think the judge was correct on this occasion.

**Pedro Silva** Wed Aug 22, 2012 1:09 pm

Yes bb1, I agree with you.

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Locked-In Syndrome Victim Dies Aged 58

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