Peace at last for right-to-die woman

A motor neurone disease victim who launched a High Court action to allow her GP to administer pain-relieving drugs which might shorten her life, has diedFormer air hostess Annie Lindsell, 47, from Teddington, London, dropped her two-year court battle in October when her doctor, Simon Holmes, said he was willing to carry out the treatment.

Her solicitor, Gai Tetlow, said: "Annie passed away ... from respiratory failure caused by ... motor-neurone disease. Following her High Court success, Annie was able to live her last weeks of life with a comforting assurance that if it had it proved necessary, and she had requested it, her doctor would have been able to lawfully administer distress-relieving drugs that would have shortened her life."

Ms Tetlow confirmed that Mr Holmes had eventually not used the drugs.

Dr Holmes, had refused to administer diamorphine to Ms Lindsell without clarification that the act would be lawful, but changed his mind when medical experts at the court approved of his planned treatment.