Leeds Man Takes Up Right To Die Challenge

18 April 2013, 08:25 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A paralysed man is taking up a legal challenge for the right to die with the help of a doctor, saying he would like to be able to choose when to "call it a day''.

Paul Lamb has taken on the case originally begun by Tony Nicklinson, saying he "badly'' wants to see the law changed.

58 year Mr Nicklinson died last year shortly after he lost his legal bid to end his life with a doctor's help, but his family won permission to continue his campaign.

Mr Lamb, who has waived anonymity to speak out, has joined the challenge, and the two cases will be heard in the Court of Appeal on May 14th and 15th.

Mr Lamb, from Leeds says:
"I just badly would like to see this law changed and then have that choice to just say, as and when I choose, you know, call it a day.''

He was severely injured in a car accident in 1990 and has no function in any of his limbs apart from a little movement in his right hand.

In a statement to the courts, the father-of two said:
"I am in pain every single hour of every single day. I have lived with these conditions for a lot of years and have given it my best shot.

Now I feel worn out and I am genuinely fed up with my life. I feel I cannot and do not want to keep living. I feel trapped by the situation and have no way out.

I spend my day sitting in my wheelchair. My daily routine is tedious, monotonous and pointless. I often go to bed at 5pm - such is the pointlessness of it all.

I am fed up of going through the motions of life rather than living it. I feel enough is enough.''