An Inverness man who lives with a crippling illness was said he will return to his plan to die in a Swiss clinic in October if he can’t secure treatment.
Colin Campbell was due to end his own life at the Lifecircle Clinic in Basel tomorrow because of the worsening symptoms of his multiple sclerosis.
But the 56-year-old chose to defer his appointment last month after it was recommended that he consider seeking stem cell treatment which would help with his condition.
Mr Campbell lives with a rare form of MS which means his symptoms steadily worsen over time with no periods of remission.
Seeking stem cell treatment was recommended by fellow MS sufferer Rona Tynan, who got in touch with Mr Campbell after seeing media coverage when he announced his intention to travel to Switzerland.
Yesterday Mr Campbell said he was “thankful” for Mrs Tynan’s intervention but said if he could not set up stem cell treatment by October he would go through with his original plans.
He said: “I’ve got to credit Rona for her kindness and consideration for suggesting different treatment before making a final act.
“I’ve deferred my appointment, not cancelled it.”
Mr Campbell reached the decision to travel to Switzerland after a difficult winter which saw him hospitalised twice because of flu symptoms.
He said: “The thing with multiple sclerosis is that it reduces your immune system.
“I don’t want to go through all that again so I can’t set up treatment by October then I will go back to my original plan and go to Switzerland.”
There are several different types of treatments available which could help, though it is likely to require travelling overseas.
Mrs Tynan and her husband have offered to set up a crowdfunding page which is due to launch soon.
The former IT consultant was diagnosed in 1995 as a fit man in his early 30s who played football and tennis and was a regular runner.
He has recently campaigned for the right to die to be legalised in Scotland
