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PRESS RELEASE, 6/7th March 2002

DISABLED MAN'S MESSAGE TO PARALYSED WOMAN

The High Court case in which a woman social care professional now paralysed from the neck down is requesting doctors to turn off her ventilator, is a very sad one.

Andy Berry, who lives with cerebral palsy, sends this message:

"Brenda ("Miss B" sounds so impersonal, doesn't it?) is in a truly terrible situation. She probably knows, from her work, that being severely disabled is no fun. I also know, from personal experience, what a change it is to go from being able to do what you want to being totally dependent on other people.

"But, is her death the only (or indeed, the best} solution? OK, it's the simplest - oh, well, Brenda, we are sure you're unlikely to recover, so let's end it now.

"Let's look at an alternative - one that allowed me to return to a reasonable quality of life (I hate that phrase - in comparison to what, a lottery winner or a homeless person?).

"It's called 'acceptance' and 'adjustment'. Brenda, you may not be able to run a marathon, but you can still enjoy music, humour and the company of good friends. OK, it's not perfect but, for the sake of the people you used to care for, at least try it."

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