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Ill Irish woman sues for right to die with her partner’s help

Irish couple in right-to-die case come forward in the media

DARA KELLY,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, September 30, 2012, 7:59 AM

Updated Sunday, September 30, 2012, 7:59 AM

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Tom Curran and Marie Fleming

A seriously ill Irish woman and her partner are suing to have the right to have her commit suicide with the help of her partner who is active in the right to die movement.

Marie Fleming and her partner Tom Curran, who are taking a case to the High Court in Ireland about the country’s suicide laws, have gone public by talking about their action with the Irish Independent.

Fleming suffers from multiple sclerosis, is wheelchair-bound and needs 24/7 care. Partner Curran provides that care, and the 59-year-old woman is trying to win the choice of end her life with his help should her suffering become too much.

As the Irish suicide law stands – suicide was decriminalized in the country in 1993 – if Curran helps Fleming to end her life then he could be sentenced to 14 years in prison.

"We are taking this case on both our behalfs," Curran told the Irish Independent. "Marie may never exercise the decision (to end her life), but I am willing to go to prison if needs be.

“It would give Marie such comfort, such peace of mind, to know that I will be there for her and that she will not have to suffer needlessly. It would give her comfort to know I could help without the threat of prison. Peace of mind, that is what this case is about."

Curran has played a very active role in the fight to legalize assisted suicide. He is the coordinator of the Irish chapter of Exit International which, according to its website “is a leading end-of-life choices (voluntary euthanasia/ assisted suicide) information & advocacy organization. “

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Mairin67 | Oct 01, 2012, 11:13 AM EDT

This is a very personal decision and one that people should have the right to make. As a society we should be offer support, counseling and education to those who choose this path. The ones who dictate that life is precious and make choices for everyone else are not in this position adn should be respectful of others right to make choices for their own life. Where are these people when the dying person needs care or wathes the pain they are in? Will they change their mind then?

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IrelandNorth | Oct 01, 2012, 07:03 AM EDT

It's a struggle between quantity of life and quality thereof. Unfortunately in the past, strong religious influences have been purely quantitative in approach, due to a certain original sin/guilt complex. One no longer commits suicide (sic), an inherently theological concept. One takes ones own life these days. A little known fact is that the eminent Austrian physician and founding father of psychoanalysis, on reaching an unbearable point in his oral cancer, is reputed to have had his own personal physician flown from Vienna to London to admininster the final injection. Hmmm! Food for thougth, perchance?

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cillowen | Sep 30, 2012, 10:57 PM EDT

Tell her to take a long walk down a short pier - it'll get lots of attention.

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EphraimKibbey | Sep 30, 2012, 06:14 PM EDT

This is a personal decision and the churches and governments all over the world should keep their noses out of it.

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moorehall | Sep 30, 2012, 03:05 PM EDT

I have to agree you Pittsburgkid

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Pittsburghkid | Sep 30, 2012, 02:15 PM EDT

Life is sacred. Ireland will be entering a slippery slop, if this is granted.

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phinsman | Sep 30, 2012, 12:28 PM EDT

I completely agree with this couple. It is a personal choice if someone no longer wants to live anymore if every day of their life is torture. Wouldn't ending one's life be more peaceful if the love of their life were with them as they passed away? This should not be a decision made by the government.

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liammurf | Sep 30, 2012, 12:04 PM EDT

I am totally against suicide. It will get you at the end. Why have some one assist in same. that would or should bother their for the rest of their life. I believe God knows what he is doing and does not need our help.

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bogsidebunny | Sep 30, 2012, 09:44 AM EDT

The Irish government will NOT allow the "Sanctity of Life" nonsense to be avoided just because some woman is terminally ill and suffering. The politicos are aware that if they do the weight of the catholic church will fall upon them and they'll lose their jobs along with the 6-figure salaries and 5-figure allowences. In a similar case not long ago the Garda ARRESTED two women when they heard the two were going to travel to Switzerland to have one of the two who was terminally ill avail of the legal "assisted suicide" in Switzerland.The Irish Gestapo can do that but they can't stop numerous rival gangs from blasting each other on a regluar basis nor can they give out citations for parking violations because: "It not in their job description".

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Letterbrick | Sep 30, 2012, 09:38 AM EDT

I completely agree with WoundedKnee. The thoughts of making someone live for years with an incurable and incapacitating disease is too cruel to comprehend. I hope they change the law on this.

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WoundedKnee | Sep 30, 2012, 08:55 AM EDT

Cases like this are so distressing. I'm a Catholic, but I believe in the right to die. The Church's pro-life stance is good, and I'm all in favor of it, but it should be balanced by charity for those who find themselves in this kind of dilemma. It's ludicrous and immoral to force someone to suffer who has no prospect of recovery.

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