Vox Pop

Debbie Purdy, a multiple sclerosis sufferer, has lost the case to change the law on assisted suicide.

Her husband may still be prosecuted if he assists her to Switzerland to a euthanasia clinic. This could mean he could face up to 14 years in prison, if he accompanies her.

Buckinghamshire GP, Caron Grimes, 48, from Cherry Tree Road, said ‘I can understand her pain, but the court’s decision on not changing the law was right.’ 

Tobi Chatfield an 18-year-old studying Industrial Design, from Ripon Road, Winton, said ‘I feel the law should have been changed, you should be able to choose when you want to die.’

Pensioner Dorris Sumner, 74, from Drappers Way, Bermondsey, said ‘the poor woman should be allowed to make her own decisions and the law should respect that.’

46-year-old security guard Adrian Jones, living in Milton Road, Bournemouth thinks ‘Changing the law, would have opened up the floodgates to all sorts of monstrosities.’ 

Billy McCarthy, 21, a painter and decorator from Sundew Avenue, Shepherds Bush, said ‘If you are physically ill, you should be allowed to have help in ending your life.’  

Graham Sweetapple, 35, lives in Southwood Avenue in Poole. ‘I am pro euthanasia. The courts do not have the right to make someone’s choices.’

A 53-year-old secretary from Coates Hill Road, Bromley, Carolyn Martin said, ‘The law should not change, otherwise the boundary between murder and assisted suicide will become unclear. 

Librarian Matt Holland, 46, from Lornepark Road, Bournemouth said, ‘No the law shouldn’t be changed…assisted suicide is a crime.’ 

Medical student, Zara Kassam, 18, who lives in Alma Road, Bournemouth said: ‘I am against suicide, only God should have the right to take someone’s life.’  

Jamie Duncan, 24, living at Wimborne Road is a promoter and feels ‘It’s human nature, in the end people do what they want to.’