Tony Nicklinson's wife: ‘The campaign continues’
The wife of Tony Nicklinson, who passed away last week after he lost his legal battle to end his life, has stated that his campaign is not yet over.
Jane Nicklinson, who has cared for her husband since a stroke paralysed him seven years ago, supported his legal bid to change the law to allow a doctor to end his life without being prosecuted.
Mr Nicklinson died of pneumonia last week at age 58. He refused to take food and fluids, as well as the antibiotics recommended to him by his doctor.
Mrs Nicklinson believes, however, that this is not the end of the campaign fronted by her husband.
She said: "This is certainly not the end of the campaign. I do hope that someone takes it up.
"Even though we didn't win - all the hard work for the case has been done. I hope at some point, someone will come forward and carry on with what Tony started”.
The law as it stands prevents doctors from ending the lives of patients, which Mr Nicklinson had said was his only recourse.
His campaign went further in its demands than the usual push from those in support of assisted suicide, in that it sought to ensure that someone could kill him without being prosecuted.
The British Medical Association has stated that it opposes any change in the law. According to a spokesperson, the BMA "does not believe that it would be in society's best interests for doctors to be able to legally end a patient's life".
The Royal College of Physicians are amongst the other professional bodies and organisations opposing any proposed change.
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