Lawyer Lunch » assisted suicide http://lawyerlunch.com Real Law. Real Life. Real Tasty. Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:36:38 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Australian Quadriplegic Awarded Right to Die http://lawyerlunch.com/australian-quadriplegic-awarded-right-to-die/ http://lawyerlunch.com/australian-quadriplegic-awarded-right-to-die/#comments Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:03:48 +0000 Brian Karpf http://lawyerlunch.com/?p=97 The Supreme Court of Western Australian has decided that a nursing facility cannot be held liable for allowing Quadriplegic Christian Rossiter to die. Rossiter, a 49-year-old Quadriplegic who has lived in the home for the past 9 months, plans to refuse food and water in an effort to end his life. Though physically impaired, he retains full mental capacity. This was pertinent in the court’s decision, noting that external pressures by friends or family members have not come into play.

The Bridgewater Nursing Facility brought the suit – not Rossiter – in an effort to shield itself from an Australian law which allows patients to refuse life-saving treatment, but bans assisted suicide, a crime which carries a potential life sentence. Rossiter was quoted saying “I’m happy that I won my right to die,” Rossiter further noted that he may change his mind. Seems like alot of effort for someone who isn’t even sure he wants to kick the bucket.

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