A 49-YEAR-OLD quadriplegic who says his life is a "living hell" will find out whether he can starve himself to death as early as next Friday.
Lawyer John Hammond requested WA Supreme Court chief justice Wayne Martin hold a bedside hearing next Friday for his Perth client, Christian Rossiter, 49, at the nursing home where he's in care.
The Brightwater Care Group has lodged an application seeking advice on whether the nursing home should continue feeding Mr Rossiter, despite his wish to starve to death.
Mr Rossiter has described his situation in total paralysis as unbearable. He is in 24-hour care at Brightwater, in Perth's northern suburbs.
He first publicly declared his wish to die in June, and has since had discussions with right-to-die advocate Philip Nitschke and Mr Hammond about possible options for ending for his life.
Speaking through a tracheotomy tube, Mr Rossiter said he wasn't afraid of dying, just the pain.
Mr Rossiter yesterday told Perth Now that Australia should adopt Switzerland's euthanasia laws and allow people freedom of choice in their right to live or die.
"I'm hoping the courts won't force them (nursing home staff) to sustain me," Mr Rossiter said.
"This is living hell.
"I used to be a cyclist, I used to be a keen walker.
"I bushwalked around the world ... I've rock climbed in Yosemite Valley in California up very steep cliffs.
"I've got a degree in economics and now I can't even read a newspaper, I can't turn the pages.
"I want to have the food withdrawn."
Mr Hammond said his client's wishes should be respected.
"He wants to die now, not tomorrow, not next week, but he wants to die now and he wants to die without pain," Mr Hammond said yesterday.
"I think if we are to be civilized in the way we deal with people like Mr Rossiter then his wish should be granted."
In court today, Mr Hammond said his client would like the opportunity to defend his case in person because the impact of his evidence would be lost in court documents.
Transporting Mr Rossiter to court would be difficult and cause him physical pain, so a bedside hearing would be preferable, Mr Hammond said.
Chief Justice Martin said he would consider the request, but that a written statement might be sufficient.
Mr Rossiter said he hoped the court would look at his case compassionately.
A court date for the case has been set for next Friday.
Mr Nitschke said Mr Rossiter's case had attracted international interest.
He said an Asian media group had offered to set up a 24-hour webcam so people around the world could monitor Mr Rossiter and his plight.
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