Why Daddy must be helped to die

Lauren Nicklinson, 24, admits she's always been a bit of a "daddy's girl".

But in 2005, the relationship with her father Tony changed after he suffered a stroke and became paralysed from the neck down.

Tony, 58, has what's known as locked-in syndrome. His mind is fully alert but he can barely move and he needs 24-hour care.

He says he wants to die and has taken his case to the High Court, with the full support of his family. 'No quality of life'

"Dad wants to die simply because he feels he has no quality of life," says Lauren.

"He's gone from a loud, active ex rugby player to someone who's wheelchair bound who watches telly all day."

The case is complex but the crux is Tony Nicklinson wants a doctor to be able to end his life legally, without that doctor then being prosecuted for murder.

Tony is so disabled he's not able to kill himself.

Lauren, who lives in Bristol, says her dad's decision makes sense to people who knew what his life was like before the stroke.

"The relationship we once had was based on doing things together, going out and having fun," she says.

"We can't do any of that now. We have a tight bond but it's different now and from his perspective it's not just not enough."

She says she's come to terms with his decision.

"Lots of people lose their dads when they're in their nineties. It might just be that I lose my dad in his fifties or sixties." Twitter debut

Lauren says her dad has just joined Twitter and sees it as another way of "connecting to the world."

In a few days he's already got more than 25-thousand followers.

He communicates using a special computer which records his eye movement to select which letter he wants to use.

The Ministry of Justice is among those who feel that if senior judges rule in Tony Nicklinson's favour then it essentially gives the go-ahead for murder. Lauren disagrees.

"We don't see it as murder because he's asking for it. He's asking to die."

-BBC