Professor Mary Donnelly:

I would see that gap in numbers of people taking as a very positive sign. It is a sign that people have the reassurance they require and are making a choice to continue. I would see assisted dying as fitting within the model of living for as long as one can. I would see that as absolutely essential.

I want to talk briefly about Diane Pretty's case. She had motor neurone disease. The question was whether she would refuse treatment, which in her case was assistance with breathing, and die in that way, or whether she would have assisted dying, which would have enabled her to die in a way that she felt was more dignified. I am not saying that every assisted dying case is like that. However, for the individual to be able to live as long as possible, I would see that as something that is absolutely essential to work into any legislation we introduce. It is about living. Of course it is also about dying; I am not trying to finesse that but it is about living as well.