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Right-to-die campaigner Jane Nicklinson says Hayley Cropper’s death on Coronation Street ‘has done our cause proud’

Right-to-die campaigner Jane Nicklinson says Hayley Cropper’s death on Coronation Street ‘has done our cause proud’

Metro.co.uk, January 21, 2014
by Paul McMillan
 

Right-to-die campaigner says Hayley's Coronation Street death 'has done our cause proud'

Coronation Street’s assisted suicide storyline has ‘done our cause proud’, a right-to-die campaigner has said.
Jane Nicklinson praised the ITV soap for starting a conversation after millions tuned in to watch Hayley Cropper take an overdose after giving up her struggle with incurable cancer.
The storyline had attracted criticism from some quarters.
Mrs Nicklinson is continuing the legal fight started by her husband Tony, who suffered from locked-in syndrome before his death in 2012.
She told those involved with Coronation Street: ‘You have done our cause proud. Nobody should have to suffer.’
Right-to-die campaigner Jane Nicklinson says Hayley Cropper’s death on Coronation Street 'has done our cause proud'
Actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, who played transsexual Hayley, said it had been ‘a real privilege’ to play the character and she had ‘always really understood Hayley’s decision’.
The storyline is being played out as former lord chancellor Lord Falconer of Thoroton launches a bid to legislate on the controversial issue with his Assisted Dying Bill, which would enable terminally-ill patients to request assisted dying, subject to a range of safeguards.
The Samaritans charity, which advised producers on the storyline, has warned Hayley’s death could risk copycat suicides.
Care Not Killing, a campaign group opposed to euthanasia and assisted suicide, also said the soap was ‘in great danger of normalising an occurrence that is actually very rare indeed’.
For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90 or visit a local Samaritans branch.


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