Judge Shows Mercy On 'Suicide Pact' Husband

A man who tried and failed in an attempted suicide pact with his wife has been spared jail.

Gilbert Brown, 83, and wife Doris, 80, of Uxbridge, west London, survived a cocktail of pills and gas fumes while in their car in an attempted suicide pact.

The judge at the Old Bailey said that it "was not a case which required a prison sentence" and placed him under a two-year supervision order.

Mr Brown, a retired accounts assistant, had been looking after his wife for more than 30 years. His wife suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and dementia.

The court heard that Mr Brown "became distraught" when his wife of 60 years was found to be suffering from dementia and was taken away by social services to be treated.

On her return home, he took her for a drive. It is understood an officer had found a suicide note in their home the next day, shortly before the heavily drugged couple returned home.

It is reported that the couple had been "taking pills all night".

It is understood that the pair had taken a total 47 painkillers and sleeping tablets.

Prosecuting, David Harounoff, said Mr Brown told police that he had "failed Doris" and that he thought it was "best" for them "go together".

It is reported that Mr Brown said his wife wanted to end her own life saying if she had a gun, she would shoot herself.

Judge Jeremy Roberts said it "was a genuine attempt" by Mr Brown "to carry out what is sometimes referred as a mercy killing of his wife".

"It was, in Mr Brown's words, an act to relieve her suffering," he said.

Mr Brown will only be permitted to have supervised visits with his wife for the duration of the court order.

Dying in Dignity, the charity which promotes patient choice at the end of life believes that a change in law will give terminally ill people more control at the end of life.

A Dignity in Dying poll revealed that 86% of respondents believed those suffering from a terminal illness should be able to exercise choice over their care at the time of death and 79% believed it is important not to have their lives prolonged against their wished.

Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying said: "We want to see end-of-life services that are sensitive, responsive and accessible to all. Individuals need to be clear about their wishes, whilst Government must ensure that services meet people's needs at death, putting choice, control and access at the centre of end-of-life care."

Former Minister for Health Reform, Lord Norman Warner said: "Choice and personalisation are central to the current debate about the future of the NHS and social care. What matters most for those who are dying is the quality of those remaining months or weeks, dignity at the time of death and support for those who care for them."

Earlier this month, two judges ruled that a Judicial Review of the law around assisting suicide, in countries where it is lawful, should go ahead.

Debbie Purdy, 45, of Bradford, wants to travel to assisted suicide clinic, Dignitas, in Switzerland, to end her life if her suffering becomes unbearable.

She suffers from Primary Progressive Multliple Sclerosis.

Debbie's case will now proceed towards a Judicial Review, due to take place in October.

(DS)