Statement from Kelly Taylor re the withdrawal of her legal case (18th April 2007)

18th April 2007, 4.35pm

Statement from Mrs Kelly Taylor re the withdrawal of her legal case for sedation

From Dignity in Dying on behalf of Mrs Kelly Taylor.

Mrs Kelly Taylor has asked us to put out the following statement:

Kelly Taylor has been told that her request for an adjournment to her case (due to be heard in the High Court on 24th April) so that she could try non-pharmacological treatments has been rejected out of hand by the defendants.

She feels she has been forced to withdraw her case by the defendants and wishes to express how distressed she is by their actions. Kelly remains committed to patient choice at the end of life. She will continue to campaign for the rights of terminally ill people to determine when and how they die.

Ends

Dignity in Dying Press Office: 020 7937 7781 and mobile: 07725 433025 or 07773 270649

Note to editors:

1. Dignity in Dying’s involvement: This is Kelly Taylor’s personal legal case and has not been funded by Dignity in Dying. Kelly Taylor asked Dignity in Dying to handle media interest around her case, as she was too ill to cope. We have been happy to help her in this way.

2. The case for sedation was due to be heard in the High Court from 24th April.

3. Mrs Taylor suffers from Eisenmenger’s syndrome a condition that affects her heart and lungs and is ultimately fatal. She began her legal case to establish her options under the law because of the pain she suffers for which she has found no effective relief.

4. Mrs Taylor instructed her legal team to request an adjournment to allow her to consider advice to try non-pharmacological interventions that may result in reducing the pain and suffering she experiences.

5. The defendants in the case are the United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust, St Peter’s Hospice and the Fishponds GP Practice.