Press release: CARE says narrative around David Hunter case troubling

David Hunter, a retired miner who suffocated his cancer-stricken wife to death, has walked free from a Cyprus court.

Hunter was sentenced to two years for manslaughter but judges decided his 19 months in custody to date was sufficient time served.

Proponents of assisted suicide have used the distressing case to argue for a change in the law in the UK.

Michael Polak, Hunter's lawyer, argued for 'assisted dying' in a media interview earlier today on Radio 5 Live.

CARE CEO Ross Hendry commented:

“We're concerned by the narrative surrounding this case, which involves the violent death of a vulnerable woman. Janice Hunter became distressed after being diagnosed with cancer. She needed specialist support. Finding this would have been the compassionate response by David Hunter.

"Some groups are using this case to campaign for ‘assisted dying’. They claim that it shows the need for this controversial practice to be legal in the UK. Their argument is based on the premise that people with serious illnesses face a binary choice between suffering and death. This idea is false, and dangerous.

“Holistic palliative care meets the needs of dying people, including in the most difficult circumstances. Our national conversation needs to focus on how we improve care, not keep returning to assisted suicide. The experience of countries like Canada shows that assisted suicide is a Pandora's Box."