THE widower of a North-East multiple sclerosis sufferer who died after she starved herself to end her pain is calling for a change in the law on euthanasia.

Waltraud Coles, 54, of Durham, who had the disease for almost ten years, died of pneumonia in February after she refused food for almost three weeks.

She chose to starve herself because she was too disabled to take an overdose of tablets and her 58-year-old husband, Oliver, could have been prosecuted if he had administered them.

She had previously written a legally-binding living will with the Voluntary Euthanasia Society, refusing medical treatment that could keep her alive.

Mr Coles said: "Her mind was healthy, but her body had given up. She was very brave. She wanted to die while she still had some dignity.

"Ever since she was diagnosed ten years ago, she looked into ways to end her life because she knew it would eventually take over.

"She should never have had to die in such a horrendous way. It was not fair.

"Just because she could not physically take any tablets herself, she was helpless in deciding her own fate.

"Waltraud was very brave, not cowardly. She did not want to spend the rest of her days in indescribable pain.''

Since the death of his German-born wife, who taught the language in schools and universities, Mr Coles has tried to raise awareness about the law on assisted suicide and euthanasia.

He said: "In situations where someone is so ill he or she physically cannot kill themselves, but obviously wants to, there should be laws to acknowledge that person's rights so he or she does not have to die a slow and painful death."

Human rights lawyer Lord Joffe has introduced a Private Member's Bill into the House of Lords that would allow doctors to prescribe drugs to end the life of a terminally ill person who wanted to die, which is opposed by Anglican bishops.

A spokeswoman for the Voluntary Euthanasia Society said: "Waltraud should not have had to die in this way.

"Under the current system, people such as Waltraud face the dreadful choices of suicide, starvation or travelling abroad to die. This is unjust and inhumane.

"The law needs to be changed so that mentally competent people with terminal illnesses can ask for medical help to die with dignity."