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It may well be the case that both (a) assisted dying is something that should be permitted (with appropriate safeguards) to provide a dignified and voluntary exit from suffering to those entombed in their own body and any others making a free and independent choice to pursue it; and (b) despite this, assisted dying is not currently permitted by law in the UK. Personally I believe strongly that both are the case. There are some who disagree with (a) - and fair enough, that is a subjective moral question. But many of those who disagree with (b) are either indulging in wishful thinking or confusing what they think the law on assisted dying should be with what it actually is.

The UK rightly prides itself on its rule of law. This means laws we do not like must be changed through parliament. Courts must not, and cannot be expected to, apply something other than the law simply because people would like the law to be different to how it actually is. Changing the law is a job for parliament, particularly on a difficult and emotionally charged issue like this, which has a subjective moral judgment at its core. Credit to the judges doing their job and sticking to the right answer in very difficult and emotionally charged circumstances. I have enormous sympathy for Mr Conway and his predicament and would ultimately want him to be granted his last remaining wish - and perhaps the judges do too. But they're right not to let this cloud their judgment.

Those objecting to the judgment (and Mr Conway and his legal team) would be better off focussing their energy on campaigning for new legislation to legalise assisted dying. I and I imagine many previous posters would be right behind them if they did.