A YORK woman with terminal cancer has welcomed the Supreme Court’s latest ruling over an individual’s the right to die.

The cases before the court involved the family of the late Tony Nicklinson, of Wiltshire, who had locked-in syndrome, and Paul Lamb, of Leeds, who was paralysed in a crash who wanted a change in the law to allow doctors to assist patients to die. A third man lost his attempt to have prosecution guidance on assisted suicide clarified.

The court’s ruling did not grant the change in the law, but said Parliament must begin to consider the amendment which Margaret John, 73, of South Bank, who has ovarian cancer, said was a positive step.

“At first it looks like we have lost it but what they have done is made sure that a decision needs to be taken because a change in the law as it should be by Parliament and certainly the judges have said that.

“Some of the judges have been much more sympathetic to the idea about having the chance to end life and said that if Parliament does not debate this and makes up its mind, judges will start making decisions for them and I think that is a positive step.

She did not expect the law to be changed before next year’s general election, but said she was one of many who felt the changes have to be made. “Life is very precious but it is life, not existence, and that is important for me - that I have got life as long as I can. Pain doesn’t matter with me but becoming dependent and my world shrinking to just four walls? I want a full range of options available to me at the end.”