Judges reject right to die bid but ask Parliament to look at the matter

The Supreme Court today rejected an appeal to allow doctors to help people to die, but challenged the Government to review the law around euthanasia, writes Liz Dodd.

The court rejected by a majority of seven judges to two an appeal by the families of the late Tony Nicklinson, of Wiltshire, and Paul Lamb, of Leeds.

But two justices, Lady Hale and Lord Kerr, said that the existing ban on assisted suicide was incompatible with human rights, while the president of the Supreme Court, Lord Neuberger, said the appeal was rejected to “accord Parliament the opportunity” to change the law.

A majority – five justices – ruled that judges do have the constitutional authority to declare that the ban contravenes EU rights legislation. Lord Neuberger agreed, adding that the court did not do so only because Parliament was in a position to act, a reference to Lord Falconer’s bill to legalise assisted dying.

Mr Nicklinson, who died in 2012 aged 58, suffered from locked-in syndrome. His family, along with Mr Lamb, who was paralysed in a road accident, want doctors who help patients to die to be protected under law.

Lord Falconer’s bill will receive its second reading on 18 July.