Noel Conway

Noel Conway had terminal motor neurone disease and brought a judicial review challenging the law on assisted dying. Noel felt that he was prevented from exercising his right to choice and control over his death under the current law and feared that without a change in the law he may be forced to suffer against his wishes.

Noel, supported by Dignity in Dying, instructed law firm Irwin Mitchell to bring a case to fight for his right to have the option of an assisted death when he is in his final six months of life. His case garnered huge public support with the #ImWithNoel campaign stretching across the nation.

After a lengthy legal battle including hearings at the High Court and the Court of Appeal, Noel attempted to appeal to the Supreme Court. At this stage his case was refused permission to proceed. The permissions hearing took place before Supreme Court in 2018 before President Baroness Hale of Richmond, Deputy President Lord Reed and Justice Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore. In their decision the Supreme Court Justices make clear the importance of the issues raised by the case for society.

“No-one doubts that this issue is of transcendent public importance”

The Supreme Court

The decision also confirmed that “the ban on assisted suicide is an interference with the right to respect for private life protected by article 8” [the right to private life].

Noel Conway died as a result of his motor neurone disease in 2021 aged 71. He wrote this statement which he asked Dignity in Dying to release after he died.