British woman loses her appeal for clarification on assisted suicide laws

London: UK - Reuters UK reported yesterday that 45-year-old Debbie Purdy has lost her High Court case to clarify the law on assisted suicide. For readers not familiar with the case, Ms Purdy, who was diagnosed with primary progressive MS in 1995 and can no longer walk, is considering going to a clinic in Switzerland to end her life, but fears her husband may be charged on his return to the UK. She had wanted a guarantee from the High Court that her husband, Omar Puente, would not be prosecuted if he helped her to commit suicide abroad. Details of the High Court ruling are here. Ms Purdy, speaking outside the court, said she was "really disappointed" with the ruling and would take her case to the Court of Appeal.