Statement from man granted right to assisted suicide

Following the historic decision Thursday morning to allow a terminally-ill man to have doctors help him die, the man at the centre of the debate wrote a statement to the public.

Here is that statement:

I want to thank the court for its ruling today. This decision allows me, with the support of caring doctors, to die with dignity. It relieves me from mental and physical pain, should I so choose, but what is really most important is that it allows me to be in control of when and how my journey will end. This is a right of human dignity and I am thankful that I no longer have to live under a cloud of stigma and shame that I feel as I slowly and painfully lose control. 

 I have had a good life, an exciting life, and one that I lovingly shared with my wife, my children, my grandson, and my other grandchildren. I have no regrets about that. My only regret in these last months is that my family and I have had to expend what little energy I have left to fight this court battle. My wish is that our government will see fit to make permanent changes in the law so that no other family will have to do this ever again. I believe firmly the right to die with dignity is a right that should be available to all Canadians to exercise according to their circumstances and beliefs.  

My decisions about next steps will be made in private by me with the support of my doctors and my family.