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A successful young lawyer in Wellington, Lecretia Seales met and fell in love with Matt Vickers in 2003. In Lecretia’s Choice, Matt tells the story of their life together, and how it changed when his proud, fiercely independent wife was diagnosed with a brain tumour and forced to confront her own mortality.
The death she faced—slow, painful, dependent—was completely at odds with how she had lived her life. Lecretia wanted to die with dignity, to be able to say goodbye well, and not to suffer unnecessarily—but the law denied her that choice. With her characteristic spirit, she decided to mount a challenge in New Zealand’s High Court, but as the battle raged, Lecretia’s strength faded. She died on 5 June 2015, at the age of forty-two, the day after her family learned that the court had ruled against her.
Lecretia’s Choice is not only a moving love story but compulsory reading for everyone who cares about the dignity we afford terminally ill people who want to die on their own terms.
‘It was against her nature to put herself out there...This wasn’t about getting attention. But she understood that not having this choice was an injustice to her and the only way to shine a light on that injustice was to go public. Although it was against her nature, I think she felt a duty and a responsibility to do it.’ Matt Vickers interview with Stuff NZ.
About the Author
In 2015 Matt Vickers supported his wife, Lecretia Seales, in her campaign to gain the right to choose how she died. Lecretia’s Choice is his first book.
The death she faced—slow, painful, dependent—was completely at odds with how she had lived her life. Lecretia wanted to die with dignity, to be able to say goodbye well, and not to suffer unnecessarily—but the law denied her that choice. With her characteristic spirit, she decided to mount a challenge in New Zealand’s High Court, but as the battle raged, Lecretia’s strength faded. She died on 5 June 2015, at the age of forty-two, the day after her family learned that the court had ruled against her.
Lecretia’s Choice is not only a moving love story but compulsory reading for everyone who cares about the dignity we afford terminally ill people who want to die on their own terms.
‘It was against her nature to put herself out there...This wasn’t about getting attention. But she understood that not having this choice was an injustice to her and the only way to shine a light on that injustice was to go public. Although it was against her nature, I think she felt a duty and a responsibility to do it.’ Matt Vickers interview with Stuff NZ.
About the Author
In 2015 Matt Vickers supported his wife, Lecretia Seales, in her campaign to gain the right to choose how she died. Lecretia’s Choice is his first book.
Industry Reviews
`A beautifully written story of courage, determination and a legal race against time.' -- Professor Gillian Triggs, Australian Human Rights Commission
`A poignant love story and a fiercely rational call for change.' -- Emily Perkins
This is a brave, intimate book, both agonizing and uplifting, and unflinchingly honest.' -- Andrew Solomon, National Book Award winner, president of PEN American Center
'A tragic story, heart-breaking; so beautifully written...Lecretia's Choice was an almost un-put-downable book. Every home should have a copy, for a reminder, if nothing more, of what it is to have heart, humility and hope.' * Off the Tracks *
'Matt Vickers asserts "stories are the most powerful force in the universe." This is the story of his wife, Lecretia, and her extraordinary advocacy in the face of ordinary tragedy. It will help change the world.' -- Barbara Coombs Lee, President of Compassion and Choices USA
`This is as much the story of a relationship as it is of lawyer Lecretia Seales' well-publicised effort to kick-start a law change to allow assisted dying, before she herself succumbed to cancer in June 2015...If anybody should have known how to make the most of the legal system, it was Seales. That this was not enough only makes her story as told here even sadder.' * North & South *
`A poignant love story and a fiercely rational call for change.' -- Emily Perkins
This is a brave, intimate book, both agonizing and uplifting, and unflinchingly honest.' -- Andrew Solomon, National Book Award winner, president of PEN American Center
'A tragic story, heart-breaking; so beautifully written...Lecretia's Choice was an almost un-put-downable book. Every home should have a copy, for a reminder, if nothing more, of what it is to have heart, humility and hope.' * Off the Tracks *
'Matt Vickers asserts "stories are the most powerful force in the universe." This is the story of his wife, Lecretia, and her extraordinary advocacy in the face of ordinary tragedy. It will help change the world.' -- Barbara Coombs Lee, President of Compassion and Choices USA
`This is as much the story of a relationship as it is of lawyer Lecretia Seales' well-publicised effort to kick-start a law change to allow assisted dying, before she herself succumbed to cancer in June 2015...If anybody should have known how to make the most of the legal system, it was Seales. That this was not enough only makes her story as told here even sadder.' * North & South *
ISBN: 9781925355598
ISBN-10: 1925355594
Published: 29th August 2016
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number of Pages: 304
Audience: General Adult
Publisher: The Text Publishing Company
Country of Publication: AU
Dimensions (cm): 2.6 x 15.5 x 23.5
Weight (kg): 0.46
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You Can Find This Book In
Non-FictionBiographies & True Stories MemoirsFamily & HealthCoping with / Advice about Personal, Social & Health TopicsCoping with / Advice about Death & BereavementLawLaws of Specific JurisdictionsRelationships & Families: Advice & IssuesDating, Relationships, Living Together & MarriageSociety & CultureEthical Issues & Debates
This product is categorised by
- Non-FictionBiographies & True Stories Memoirs
- Non-FictionFamily & HealthCoping with / Advice about Personal, Social & Health TopicsCoping with / Advice about Death & Bereavement
- Non-FictionLawLaws of Specific Jurisdictions
- Non-FictionFamily & HealthRelationships & Families: Advice & IssuesDating, Relationships, Living Together & Marriage
- Non-FictionSociety & CultureEthical Issues & DebatesEthical Issues of Euthanasia & Right To Die
- Non-FictionBiographies & True Stories Biographies