Noel's story
This country has, we're told, the third highest number of people wanting to end their life with the help of a group in Switzerland called Dignitas.
According to the group, there are seven hundred and twenty five Britons on the list. Only Germany and Switzerland have more.
5 live spent a day filming Noel Martin who is one of those people who had decided to end his life.
Noel was paralysed after being attacked while he was working in Germany in 1996.
A block of concrete was thrown through his car windscreen and he subsequently hit a tree.
He hasn't been able to use his wheelchair since January because he's developed pressure sores. He has two carers with him at all times.
Noel agreed to let us follow him for a day. Some of you might find some of the material distressing.
Waking up: "Every day is like groundhog day"
In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.
Getting washed: "I would do anything to get a bit of water and splash it on my face."
In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.
Liz Carr agreed to meet Noel Martin. She uses a wheelchair and needs 24 hour care, but her attitude towards living with a disability couldn't be more different. Here's what happened when they met.
Noel meets Liz: "I want to be able to choose my Waterloo."
In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.
CONTACTS AND FURTHER INFORMATION
REFUSAL OF MEDICAL TREATMENT, LIVING WILLS, EUTHANASIA
A Citizens' Advice Bureau, local law centre or solicitor can advise you on living wills. It may also be prudent to consider talking the matter over with your GP.
More detailed information on the position regarding the refusal of treatment, euthanasia, the law and assisted suicide and living wills can be found on the British Medical Association website: www.bma.org.uk
The Patients Association and BMA have produced a booklet on Living Wills which can be downloaded from their website: www.patients-association.com. It can also be sent out free of charge by calling the PA helpline: 0845 608 4455.
Dignity In Dying lobbies to make it legal for a competent adult, suffering from an incurable illness to receive medical help to die at their own informed and persistent request.
Tel: 0870 777 7868 (Mon - Fri 9:30 to 5:30)
Email: info@dignityindying.org.uk
www.dignityindying.org.uk
ANTI-EUTHANASIA
Alert
Alert aims to warn people of the dangers of any type of euthanasia legislation and pro-death initiatives.
Tel: 0207 730 2800
www.donoharm.org.uk/alert
Email: alert@donoharm.org.uk
Care Not Killing
A UK-based alliance of human rights groups, healthcare groups, palliative care groups and faith-based organisations.
Tel: 020 7633 0770
Email: info@carenotkilling.org.uk
www.carenotkilling.org.uk
Medical Ethics Alliance
Non-profit organization which has been established to promote pro-life policies.
www.medethics-alliance.org
BEREAVEMENT
The Compassionate Friends
Aim to provide support and friendship for bereaved family members.
Tel: 0845 123 2304 (Seven days, 10am to 4.00pm - 6.30pm - 10.30pm)
E-mail: info@tcf.org.uk
www.tcf.org.uk
Cruse Bereavement Care
Bereavement counselling, support, help and advice.
Tel: 0870 167 1677
Helpline: 08457 58 55 65
www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk
LEGAL
Community Legal Service
Information and help about their legal rights.
www.justask.org.uk/
Law Centres Federation
Free and independent professional legal service to people who live or work in their catchment areas
www.lawcentres.org.uk/
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Information on the medical complaints procedure and advise of a solicitor in your area who specialises in medical negligence cases.
www.nacab.org.uk
Jump to more content from this blog
About this blog
Subscribe to 5 live Breakfast
You can stay up to date with 5 live Breakfast via these feeds.
5 live Breakfast Feed(ATOM)
If you aren't sure what RSS is you'll find our beginner's guide to RSS useful.
Podcast
5LNPI: Where would you make the cuts? 07 Dec 09
10:40 Mon, 7 Dec 09
Gordon Brown is starting to set out Labour's plans for slashing public spending. It could see civil servant jobs go and new NHS computer systems shelved. Nicky asks where would you make the savings?
Download or subscribe to this programme's podcast
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~10~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
I heard Victorias programme today and now seeing this video feel very upset and dispair for Noel. I wish something would make his life bearable but he must have the right to choose his own destiny. If these messages are passed on to Noel, I send him my love and hope he gets want he wants. Jean
Complain about this comment
I listened to Noel and smiled to myself. He sounded just like my stubborn, proud and funny grandad that passed some years ago!
Of course it should be his choice, it's his life but this guy was so intelligent and whitty, and I dont think he realises through his depression that he could make an impact and difference to other people; other disabled people; other black people or other black disabled people.
Liz was an inspiration too, she was just being positive, lets face it there aren't enough positive people about these days so hats off to her, particularly given her situation. Noel, you have a son and grandson who no doubt look up to their dad and grandad. If you were my dad or grandad i'd be dam proud of you. Good luck, I wish you all the best.
Jason, Liverpool
Complain about this comment
Having read this and watching the videos, my views on this, and feelings are that I m shocked this man wants to end his life. Assisted suicide is not a nice subject to dwell on, and I cannot understand like Liz who I know personally why this man wants to end his life.
Liz is right in what she says in the letter about the positive things Noel has in his life to focus on and that if he were to end his life, these things would be taken away from him.
As I have said before I know Liz personally and her views are different to his and even though she has twenty four hour care, she enjoys life to the full, with her friends, and her job, and family. Noel would miss all that if he were to end his life.
I hope that he decides to chnge his mind and if he doesnt , it will be a sad day for everyone that love him and know him.
Complain about this comment
Perhaps if society treated disabled people better, more people would find it easier to adjust to a different life instead of comparing their life negatively to able bodied people?
A lot of people have very negative experiences when they become disabled that are to do with their quality of life as much as their impairment. I think we should be asking how much those negative experiences contribute to their state of mind.
I'm not surprised some people think of suicide when they become disabled, when disability means a negative story-line in the soaps, modern day 'freakshow' documentaries, access laws that aren't enforced in many shops and businesses, wheelchair services in disarray across the country, vital care workers paid peanuts, poor pain management by the NHS, relatives having to take on heavy care duties, and public transport that won't become fully accessible to 2020?! Who wants to experience that?
How the hell, in this day and age when we can grow stem cells, put them into donor body organs and perform complex transplants, does someone have to stay in bed for nearly a year because of bedsores?
After watching the discussion and reading Noel and Liz's letters, I feel sad that Noel feels he has no choice, but wonder if his situation over the past year is what is making him feel like giving up - if he's been disabled since 1996, he's lived with it a long time, so why now? Is it the condition or the circumstances he's currently in?
Complain about this comment
Isn't it about listening to the individuals wishes and respecting them? In the third clip, Liz spent mor time arguing, interrupting and expressing her feelings, rather that taking the time - and extending the courtesy - to listen to what Noel was saying.
If someone really wishes to die, who are we to block their wishes? People maintain that the rights of the individual are paramount when they do not infringe on the rights of others.
People like Noel choose to go to a place where they (with the help of others who happen to agree that with the right to choose) can end their lives in a manner that gives some control. Control that might be totally absent across all aspects of their lives.
Just because Liz and AbleGirl "don't understand" why someone might choose to end their life, does not give them the right to seek to deny or challenge any individual their right to exercise that choice.
My best wishes go to Noel. Whatever he decides to do, I hope he finds peace.
Complain about this comment
These films have made me angry
Is there no health and safety in that home? Moving and handling is atrocious. Why do they drag Noel almost out of bed to turn him? The heath implications of Noel and or the member of staff have not been taken in to consideration. The technique is wrong and traumatic for Noel.
Noel is smoking assisted by a member of staff, is there not a law against passive smoking at work, dose the member of staff have a chose?
The room is cluttered with equipment, a portable heater in use, the bowl of water has to be collected elsewhere and carried into his room. Then the staff member dismantles the bed to wash his hair! It’s no wander he wants to end his life! Somebody please get him out of that place and give him some quality care. Its obvious to me that this is a privet establishment.
A Public sector carer Yorkshire
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS