A mother who helped her own son to commit suicide has thrown her weight behind a bid to give terminally ill patients the right to die.

Heather Pratten, of Bristol Close, Rayleigh avoided jail in October 2001 after admitting helping her own son Phillip Goodman, who had an incurable form of Huntingdon's disease, to die. The trial judge said her case was "exceptional".

Heather Pratten Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

Now she is supporting a new Private Members' Bill put forward by Lord Joel Joffe to legalise patient assisted dying.

Mrs Pratten said: "I agree with this Bill and give it my wholehearted support. It would have been very useful in my case if it had been law. I think the case of Diane Pretty has highlighted this issue to the public and most people support new rights for euthanasia.

"It is time for the law to catch up with public opinion."

Under the proposed legislation an adult suffering from terminal illness would need two doctors to confirm their diagnosis, and the medics would have to consider alternatives to suicide - such as hospice care.

Patients would then have to make a written declaration that they wanted to die, witnessed by a solicitor. After the declaration, there would be a waiting period so patients can give more thought to the decision.

Published Monday, February 24, 2003

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