Tony Nicklinson's widow to call for Scotland to legalise assisted suicide Mrs Nicklinson is continuing his campaign to help others in similar situations. She said earlier this month that she felt a great sense of relief that he was no longer suffering. Ms MacDonald, an Independent MSP who has Parkinson's disease, hopes to persuade the Scottish Parliament to back her revised proposals. "This is a great panel of contributors which will help people to understand the issues," she said. People want their loved ones to live as long as possible but we have people where life is no longer good. You wouldn't put an animal through the experience of some people. Other contributors include Sir Graeme Catto, chairman of Dignity in Dying and emeritus professor of medicine at the University of Aberdeen. Ms MacDonald's original attempt to change the law resulted in a free vote among MSPs and was defeated 16-85 in December 2010. Under her revised plans, Scotland would change the law that currently leaves people open to prosecution for culpable homicide for helping a loved one end their life. Assisted suicide remains a criminal offence in England and Wales, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Among Ms MacDonald's new proposals is a suggestion that a "licensed facilitator," a so-called "friend at the end," would have to be present when someone was at the point of ending their own life. The facilitator could be a doctor, social worker, or close friend but not a relative or anyone who stood to gain from the death.