A terminally ill woman has ended her court battle for the right to a painless and dignified death, after she received assurances that her doctor would not allow her to suffer unneccesarily.

Annie Lindsell, who has motor neurone disease, wanted the High Court to give her doctor the legal right to administer a drug to prevent suffering during the final stages of her illness, even if it might shorten her life.

The action was discontinued when the court heard that the treatment proposed by her doctor was in accordance with good medical practice and therefore any further legal argument was unnecessary.

Her counsel, Lord Lester, had told the court she had only weeks to live, and her greatest fear was the prospect of suffocating or choking to death when breathing and swallowing became difficult.

She had asked the court to rule that if this happened, her doctor could intervene and administer diamorphine - without fear of prosecution.

The President of the Family Dvision of the High Court, Sir Stephen Brown, backed the decision to discontinue the action. He said he hoped doctors would feel their attention had been focused on an important part of their practice and the law.

Ms Lindsell said the outcome was an important victory for patient autonomy and human rights and she hoped it would mean "brave doctors" would no longer have to fear prosecution from police.
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