The House of Lords today granted Diane Pretty leave to appeal the decision to reject her judicial review application in the High Court. The hearing before the Lords has been listed for Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th November.

Liberty lawyers are representing Diane and Brian Pretty in the case; the family are supported by the Voluntary Euthanasia Society.

Liberty lawyer Mona Arshi, the Prettys' solicitor for the case, said:

"Diane is delighted and looks forward to taking the case to the House of Lords. The Law Lords stated clearly today that her case raises issues of public interest that haven't yet been tackled in our courts. We believe it raises key questions about whether the right to life - regardless of its quality - outweighs all Diane's other rights and her own wishes.

"We will also be questioning whether the law's necessary protections for the vulnerable - as laid out in the Suicide Act - should also be applied relentlessly to those who neither want nor need them, and for whom they are not a protection but a cruel restriction".