Debbie Purdy was born in 1963. She is married to Omar Puente a Cuban Jazz musician. Origianlly from Bradford, Debbie Purdy has lived and worked in Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Norway and the US, writing music, selling jewellery and working as a waitress and dancer. In 1995 she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
As the illness progresses Debbie Purdy admits that she is finding life more difficult. She wants to be able to choose the moment when she can end her life, but admits that she will not be able to do so without assistance. her intention is to one day go, accompanied by her husband to the Swiss suicide clinic Dignitas. However she is afraid that on Omar’s return to Britain he could be arrested and sent to jail for up to 14 years for assisting a person to commit suicide.
On 30th July 2009 Debbie Purdy won a landmark ruling. The Law Lords agreed that the Director of Public Prosecutions should draw up a policy that would spell out when prosecutions would and would not be pursued.
“I am eagerly awaiting the DPP’s policy publication so that we can make an informed decision to make sure what we do does not risk prosecution. I feel like I have my life back,” she said. “I want to live my life to the full, but I don’t want to suffer unnecessarily at the end of my life. This decision means that I can make an informed choice, with Omar, about whether he travels abroad with me to end my life because we will know exactly where we stand.”
Guardian Newspaper
Debbie Purdy profile
Situation on assisted suicide
