PATIENT WITH INCURABLE ILLNESS BEGINS A LEGAL BATTLE TO WIN THE RIGHT TO DIE
Aman
stricken with incurable neurological condition -but a nonterminal patient- who could live for another fifteen years has launched a legal challenge to win the right to die -claiming ‘even animals’ live better than he does.
The 54-year-old man, called Omid, was diagnosed in 2014 with the incurable neurological condition multiple system atrophy.
He has to wear a catheter bag, needs assistance with all personal care and speaking from a hospital bed questioned ‘what is human’ about his life.
The father-of-three tried to take his own life in 2015 and is now fighting to change the law to help those suffering with incurable diseases despite having potentially years to live.
Omid, who was born in Iran before coming to the UK in August 1975, aged 12, went on to become a property developer until 2008.
He had to stop working because of his illness and he is now seeking to take his case to the High Court. Speaking to the Victoria Derbyshire show on BBC Two, he said that ‘even animals live better than him’ and said he has difficulty talking. Omid, who was married for 25 years before he separated with his wife in 2015,said: ‘They talk about human life. What’s human about this? This is human? My life is human?
‘Even animals live better than me. Even animals, when they can’t do anything, they put them to sleep. Don’t I have the right for this?’assisted suicide is unlawful in the UK, but Omid wants his case to be heard in the High Court after saying it is currently ‘cruel and unjust’.
He has to wear a catheter bag, needs assistance with all personal care and speaking from a hospital bed questioned ‘what is human’ about his life
He added that the current law prevents ‘people like him’ having a ‘painless death’ at home and is trying to raise £10,000 to help take his fight to the High Court.
On his Crowdjustice page, he said: ‘The law on assisted dying in the UK is cruel and unjust. It stops me, and many like me, from having a safe and painless death at home in England.
‘I believe that this has to change. I am determined before I leave this earth to do some good and try and change this cruel law that stops people like me dying peacefully at home. ‘I am following in the footsteps of Debbie Purdy and Tony Nicklinson, and that gives me courage.’
He told the BBC: ‘I cannot walk or write. I cannot talk OK and [there is an] effect on my mind.
‘I can only get out of bed and get up with help and in two or three months’ time it’s going to get worse.’ Speaking about how long he has left, he added: ‘We don’t know how long it could take. It could take more than 10 years more than 15 years.
‘In the morning when I wake up... I wake up thinking ‘please [let this be the] last time’. I decide every day I don’t want to live.’
His challenge comes almost two years after MPS rejected plans for a right to die in England and Wales. If he is successful, it could mean those who suffer with multiple sclerosis, neurone disease and locked-in syndrome could ask to die - despite potentially going on to live for many years. ‘I have lost the will to carry on with a wretched existence without joy and pleasure. I cannot do anything for myself. What sort of life is this and who would want it?