I have to confess that until today I hadn't heard of this terrible medical condition and one's heart has to go out to
Tony & Jane Nicklinson.
A few months ago I commented on Sir Terry Pratchett's inspired lecture entitled "
Shaking Hands With Death" that thoughtfully covered so many of the issues linked to what could be broadly called "the right to die".
This is such an emotive issue and people will have such a wide range of views that I really don't envy the Director of Public Prosecutions in dealing with Mr Nicklinson's submission.
For what it's worth, I sit firmly in the camp of allowing a person with a terminal condition to end their life in a dignified way - subject to appropriate legal safeguard's being in place.
Ever since watching my own fathers life end with an incurable brain tumour, that progressively destroyed his personality and intellect, I have been convinced that there are occasions when it is right to allow a person to have the right to choose the time & place to end their life, if necessary with assistance from a loved one.
Recent family events have strengthened my opinion on this.
It somehow seems strange that we are allowed to make so many "big" decisions during our lives but that the state & it's laws doesn't allow for us to take the ultimate decision.
I fully appreciate that many people will totally disagree with me on this and I totally respect their views.
I do wonder though if we can truly call ourselves a compassionate society when we allow so many people to end their days "existing" rather than living.
