Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Debbie Purdy: Right-to-die campaigner dies

Right-to-die campaigner Debbie Purdy, who won a landmark ruling to clarify the law on assisted suicide, has died.

The 51-year-old from Bradford had lived with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) for almost 20 years.

Ms Purdy had spent a year in the city's Marie Curie Hospice and had sometimes refused food. She died on 23 December.

In 2009, she won a ruling to get clarification on whether her husband Omar Puente would be prosecuted if he helped her to end her life.

Lord Falconer, the former lord chancellor, said Ms Purdy's role as a campaigner against the law on assisted suicide was "absolutely key" and she had transformed the debate.

Mr Puente confirmed the death of his wife in a statement, paying tribute to "a much loved wife, sister, aunt and friend".

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