A motor neurone disease patient due to end his life at Dignitas on Friday has told how he could have spent more time with his family if assisted dying was legal in the UK.
Richard Selley has to go to the Swiss clinic while he is still physically able as the law states he must administer the lethal dose himself.
But the 66-year-old former head teacher, of Glenalmond in Perthshire, said that means he will pass away sooner than if he had been allowed to die here, robbing him of precious time with wife Elaine.
Richard said if assisted dying was legal “my remaining time would have been dedicated to my wife, family and friends rather than complex admin”.
He wrote on his blog: “I have known I will die on September 6. That has been a surreal experience, not dissimilar, perhaps, to that faced by someone in a condemned cell.
“Elaine will be at my side and although parting from each other will be unbearable, she knows I cannot battle with this awful disease any longer. I am exhausted.”
Elaine added: “If I could keep him for even one more day that would be great but he’s got to be able to do everything himself, administer the medication.
“They are making him choose to go early as he’s afraid the choice will be taken from him and he wants to avoid a prolonged death.”
Richard was diagnosed in March 2015 and can no longer speak or swallow. He has campaigned to make assisted dying legal here, calling it “one of the last great human rights issues to be tackled”.
