I think this is a superb article. You have presented a very topical issue and in a very timely manner. You have described your own situation in a way that is inspiring, yet you have not attempted to provide any moralising over this man's decision. I agree that it is only a situation in which the person affected has the complete understanding to make the decision and this man clearly had the faculties to do so. I always find the technical, theoretical, and theological commentaries by people not in the exact same position as this man (and no one really can be) disappointing. Thanks for a piece that has the capability to make people think about the issue beyond it being black and white.

Reply

Hi Gary, I am so glad that you have read this piece in the way I intended it to be read. I must say I was a little bit worried that it could be taken in the wrong way, by both the disabled and non-disabled communities. I still don't have any answers, but I know what it is like having my decision-making processes usurped, so we at least owe Mr Nicklinson respectful and informed debate. Again, thank you for your comment...

Reply

I think this is a very insightful, inspiring article. I am currently a year 12 student studying the lifestyles of disabled people I read your article and was blown away to read about a man that was trapped in a world of darkness and misery in his own body, and it is understandable that almost everyone would want to take their own life if they were in his position. The topic itself was a bit unclear to me before I read the article but I now have a further understanding into quadriplegia and 'locked-in' syndrome and the impact it has on ones life, especially a person that has no experience with a physical disability who may not even think about how life would be any different to what they are living. I am inspired to read this article as someone with a disability as severe as yours can write an article about a man in a very sad situation, and how you do not compare your lives but how both physical disabilities can impact yours and your families life in a way that you may not want to continue living, although there is always room to rebuild and find a new meaning of life, although I do believe that a person living in a situation like Tony Nicklinson should have the right to end their own life if they honestly do not see reason to live on. Thank-you for providing a piece that educates and offers further insight into severe physical disabilities, and the value of healthy, normal life as it is often taken for granted by people without disabilities, as well as making people more aware that an accident can happen in a second and it can really change your life forever.

Reply

Hi Andrew, I really appreciable kind and extremely well thought out words. This was a difficult article to write for many reasons, but mostly because I didn't want to upset anyone else in the disabled community by thinking that I was an active advocate for all people with severe disabilities. There are some people with locked in syndrome who in fact have been able to create a meaningful life for themselves, but in the end it comes down to the individual and how they can deal with it. I was in fact very sad and angry about a case in England about a young man by the name of Daniel James who had exactly the same level of spinal cord injury as me. Only a very, very short time after his injury he went to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland, accompanied by his parents, and committed suicide there. In the end it was ultimately Daniel's choice, I understand that, I just don't think Daniel had enough time to deal with the depression that envelops most people after a severe spinal cord injury (SCI). I will admit that I have lots of personal strength I never knew existed before my injury, but I am also lucky that both my parents and my wide group of friends were so loving and fun and supportive after my injury that I would never consider a similar option. I think if assisted suicide is brought in it needs to be regulated, similar to the current requirements for assisted suicide that exist in the Netherlands (Holland). The rules their dictate that 2 doctors must sign off on your request, and only after a certain amount of consultations, as a means to ensure that people in the throes of different forms of depression and could be making irrational decisions do not go ahead with such an absolute solution. Anyhow, this was only going to be a quick response but I'm very passionate about this topic and was very honoured by your response that I couldn't help myself. I told you I was still a chatterbox!

Reply