MS Society Statement - Assisted Suicide Guidance

LONDON -

LONDON, September 23 /PRNewswire/ –

The MS Society has responded to today’s (Wednesday’s) clarification on assisted suicide in England and Wales by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

MS Society Chief Executive, Simon Gillespie, said: “People have been given the green light to explore assisted suicide, but without the support of medical professionals their only likely resource is Google.

“Whether society is ready to accept assisted suicide is too big a question for the DPP, for the courts, or for people with a long-term condition to decide.

“That’s why the MS Society is calling for a Royal Commission to advise the government on whether legislation for assisted suicide is now needed.”

Notes to Editors: - Royal Commissions are advisory committees established by the government to investigate a matter of public concern on an ad-hoc basis and in a non-party political way. - Royal Commissions have sometimes been established to deal with issues that a government feels may be too controversial to be seen tackling itself. - MS is the most common disabling neurological condition affecting young adults and an estimated 100,000 people in the UK have MS. - The MS Society (www.mssociety.org.uk) is the UK’s largest charity dedicated to supporting everyone with multiple sclerosis (MS), providing a freephone helpline (+44(0)808-800-8000) and specialist MS nurses. We fund more than 80 vital MS research projects in the UK. - MS is the result of damage to the myelin that surrounds nerve fibres, which interferes with messages between the brain and the body. - For some people, MS is characterised by periods of relapse and remission while for others it has a progressive pattern. Symptoms range from loss of sight and mobility, fatigue, depression and cognitive problems. There is no cure and few effective treatments. - While MS is not terminal, some symptoms associated with severe MS - breathing difficulties and chest infections, for example - can be life threatening, particularly if not treated correctly.

Source: Multiple Sclerosis Society

MS Society Press Office: +44(0)20-8438-0840, or +44(0)7909-851401 (outof hours).