Â鶹Éç

The right to die and the right to live have both been tackled in
the news over the past seven days.

Relatives have spoken out a few short weeks after a judge dismissed a case brought by Tony Nicklinson and a man known only as Martin, which asked that doctors be allowed to end a life without fear of prosecution, given certain circumstances.

In , Tony Nicklinson's daughter Lauren describes her father as her hero. She writes of their close relationship and the important part Tony played in her life, before and after the brainstem stroke which left him with locked-in syndrome.

In a Â鶹Éç article, The wife of Martin, the other plaintive in the case who has the same condition, explains her unwillingness to personally end Martin's life, while at the same time, expressing respect for his wish to die.

Tony Nicklinson has since died. Martin's legal team has applied for leave to appeal and expects a decision in the next few weeks.

At the other end of the spectrum, that prolife groups have signed a petition to "ban disability abortions "Following the Paralympics.

And in a blog post for The Guardian, , Ian Birell suggests that the recent story of a DNR order placed on a man with Down's syndrome without consent from him or his family, is not an isolated case.

Elsewhere in the news

Care funding reform failure blamed on Treasury (Â鶹Éç News, Friday 21 September)

The woman who lost all seven children (Â鶹Éç News, Thursday 20 September)

Scott Vineer attack: New witness comes forward (Â鶹Éç News, Thursday 20 September)

M&S uses child model with Down's syndrome (Â鶹Éç News, Wednesday 19 September)

London 2012 legacy plan published (Â鶹Éç News, Tuesday 18 September)

MSPs hear UK welfare reforms 'force blind man to beg' (Â鶹Éç News, Tuesday 18 September)

UK attitudes on immigration and welfare 'toughening' (Â鶹Éç News, Monday 17 September)

(The Observer, Sunday 16 September)

An unlikely love story in Nepal (Â鶹Éç News, Saturday 15 September)

(The guardian, Saturday 15 September)