[Right_to_die] Mother of paralyzed girl charged with attempted murder

[World right-to-die news (nonprofit)]

The Mailonline in the UK reported this 16 April 09:

Devoted mother charged with attempted murder of paralysed daughter who 
was bed-ridden for 17 years

By Colin Fernandez

     A mother was charged today with attempting to kill her paralysed 
bed-ridden daughter - a move that is likely to re-ignite the debate on 
'mercy killing'.

Kay Gilderdale, 54, was the full-time carer for her daughter Lynn, 31, 
who she had nursed for 17 years after she contracted the debilitating 
disease ME.

After Lynn was found dead from a suspected morphine overdose last 
December, Mrs Gilderdale's former  husband Richard, a former police 
sergeant, raised the alarm.

Lynn suffered from ME for 17 years and was paralysed by the illness
Kay Gilderdale returning home following her arrest for the suspected 
murder of her daughter Lynette

Kay Gilderdale returning home in December following her arrest for the 
suspected murder of her daughter

Mrs Gilderdale - a prominent campaigner for greater understanding of the 
disease - was arrested two hours later on suspicion of murder and 
released on bail.

After she was arrested, her family issued a statement praising her 
'total dedication' to her daughter.

Today she was charged with attempted murder. If convicted she could 
potentially face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The Crown Prosecution Service's decision to charge her is likely to 
reignite the debate on mercy killing in this country and will highlight 
an apparent inconsistency in the law.

Families who take their chronically ill loved ones to die abroad have 
not faced prosecution in recent years.

In the case of Daniel James, 23, a rugby player who was taken by his 
parents Mark and Julie to die at the Dignitas Clinic in Switzerland last 
year, the head of the CPS, Keir Starmer said a prosecution was not in 
the public interest - even though there was 'sufficient evidence for a 
realistic prospect of conviction.'

Lynn had been receiving a cocktail of drugs for her debilitating 
condition which her family believe began after she had a tuberculosis 
immunisation in 1991.

Before that she had played the piano and clarinet, won prizes for ballet 
and loved swimming.

But over the years her body became steadily weaker, losing the use of 
her legs and the ability to speak and had to eat food through a tube.

Since Mrs Gilderdale's arrest her family have stood by her.

In a statement released at the time of Lynn's death, her family said: 
'Lynn was young, beautiful, loving and caring. At the age of 14 years 
she was struck down by ME - an illness greatly misunderstood - and as a 
result, suffered the stigma attached to this dreadful illness.

'She fought long and hard for 17 years with immense bravery, enduring 
constant pain and sickness. Every system of her body was affected. She 
required 24-hour care that was provided by her totally dedicated mother, 
with continuous support from Lynn's father.'

Before her illness, Lynn loved sports and riding. She is pictured aged 
13 with her brother Stephen in the sea at Eastbourne

Sussex Police have said that Mr Gilderdale, who split from his wife in 
2002, and now works in a civilian role is not suspected in any role in 
his daughter's death.

The couple, who also have a son, Steven, 34, have said their divorce had 
not been caused by their daughter's illness.

In a statement, police said: 'Kathleen Gilderdale, 54, of Stonegate, has 
been charged that between December 2 and December 4 2008, she attempted 
to murder Lynn Gilderdale, who was found dead at her home in Stonegate, 
near Heathfield, on December 4 last year.

'She has been bailed to appear at Brighton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 
next week.'