Debbie Purdy dies after refusing food during hospice stay

8 January 2015

Mrs Purdy lived with primary progressive multiple sclerosis for around 20 years

Debbie Purdy died on the 23rd of December 2014 after refusing food intermittently from December 2013 onwards. Mrs Purdy was a long-time activist campaigning for a change in the law relating to assisted suicide in the UK.

Mrs Purdy lived with primary progressive multiple sclerosis for around 20 years and began a campaign in 2008 to change the law on assisted suicide and to seek assurance that her husband would not be prosecuted were he to kill her.

Mrs Purdy's barrister Lord Pannick said of her, "I don't think I have represented a more energetic client in my professional career." [29 December, BBC news]

Other stories:

Date set for legal challenge to Northern Irish abortion law
3 parent IVF treatment could be legal before 2015 General Election
Spiked magazine backs campaign to ban prayer vigils outside abortion centres
The Glasgow Midwives Supreme Court ruling renders the conscience clause meaningless for senior midwives [31 December, Human Life International]
Mother working at CofE school reported to Child Protection Services for showing pro-life film to her children [5 January, Live Action]
Parents defy doctors who pressured them to abort baby at 20 weeks [5 January, Daily Mail]
Women have strongest views on abortion [5 January, Breitbart News]
Bishop of Rhode Island refuses to attend pro-abortion governor’s inauguration [6 January, LifeSiteNews]
Justice Minister holding talks with Christian church leaders regarding proposed changes to Northern Irish abortion law [6 January, BBC Radio Ulster]
UK’s first surrogate mother describes treatment by agency as “truly abhorrent” [4 January, ITV News]
Private IVF clinic in Scotland closes due to lack of business [5 January, The Scotsman]
Convicted Belgian rapist and murderer to be euthanised at his request [5 January, Daily Mail]
The number of bio-ethicists who support infanticide is growing [5 January, LifeSiteNews]