Debbie Purdy

Debbie Purdy had Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Shortly after her diagnosis in 1995, she began to think about how to have choice and control over her death.

Debbie took a case to court. She argued that it was against her human rights not to know if her husband would be prosecuted if he went abroad with her to die.

Debbie Purdy outside the House of Lord in 2009

In 2009, Debbie won her case in the House of Lords. The judges said that the law was not clear enough about when people would be prosecuted for encouraging or assisting suicide. They ordered the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to produce guidance on what makes a prosecution more or less likely.