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Tony Nicklinson's widow in campaign pledge | Tony Nicklinson's widow in campaign pledge |
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The widow of Tony Nicklinson has said she hopes his campaign for a change in the law on assisted dying will continue in his memory. The locked-in syndrome sufferer, who died last week aged 58, was a keen sportsman until he was paralysed by a stroke in 2005. | The widow of Tony Nicklinson has said she hopes his campaign for a change in the law on assisted dying will continue in his memory. The locked-in syndrome sufferer, who died last week aged 58, was a keen sportsman until he was paralysed by a stroke in 2005. |
He lost a landmark right-to-die action at the high court this month and died last Wednesday at home in Melksham, Wiltshire, following a rapid deterioration in his health after contracting pneumonia. He had been refusing food in the days leading up to his death. | He lost a landmark right-to-die action at the high court this month and died last Wednesday at home in Melksham, Wiltshire, following a rapid deterioration in his health after contracting pneumonia. He had been refusing food in the days leading up to his death. |
Jane Nicklinson, who, along with daughters Lauren and Beth, had backed her husband's legal bid, echoed other right-to-die campaigners' calls for Mr Nicklinson's memory to live on through a continued battle to change the law that prevented doctors ending his life. | Jane Nicklinson, who, along with daughters Lauren and Beth, had backed her husband's legal bid, echoed other right-to-die campaigners' calls for Mr Nicklinson's memory to live on through a continued battle to change the law that prevented doctors ending his life. |
Speaking to the BBC, Mrs Nicklinson said: "This is certainly not the end of the campaign. I do hope that someone takes it up. Even though we didn't win, all the hard work for the case has been done. I hope at some point someone will come forward and carry on with what Tony started. | Speaking to the BBC, Mrs Nicklinson said: "This is certainly not the end of the campaign. I do hope that someone takes it up. Even though we didn't win, all the hard work for the case has been done. I hope at some point someone will come forward and carry on with what Tony started. |
"I think we always knew the chances of winning at this stage were slim – possible but slim – and we'd never been told anything different so we were prepared for it." | "I think we always knew the chances of winning at this stage were slim – possible but slim – and we'd never been told anything different so we were prepared for it." |
She said the family knew the result of the high court ruling days before it was made public – something that "knocked him for six". "I think he had raised his hopes so much – probably out of proportion. He said he hadn't been prepared for the emotional side and he was absolutely devastated. | She said the family knew the result of the high court ruling days before it was made public – something that "knocked him for six". "I think he had raised his hopes so much – probably out of proportion. He said he hadn't been prepared for the emotional side and he was absolutely devastated. |
"I don't think he would have wanted to keep going for too much longer. One of the last things he said to me was, 'I'm already dead – don't mourn for me.' | "I don't think he would have wanted to keep going for too much longer. One of the last things he said to me was, 'I'm already dead – don't mourn for me.' |
"And it's true – we did. I think, in some respects, seven years ago was harder than this because we did lose the old Tony." | "And it's true – we did. I think, in some respects, seven years ago was harder than this because we did lose the old Tony." |
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