The death of British woman Diane Pretty could see her emerge as a martyr for a strengthened pro-euthanasia campaign.
Ms Pretty, a 43-year-old mother of-two paralysed from the neck down by the debilitating muscle disorder, died on Saturday afternoon after suffering breathing difficulties and then going into a coma last week, her family said.
Ms Pretty, who was unable to speak in the final months of her life due to motor neuron disease, inspired sympathy and pity during a lengthy quest for her husband to be given immunity from punishment if he helped her commit suicide.
She lost her fight to "die with dignity" in the highest court in Europe at the end of last month.
Her husband, Brian, who has campaigned at her side, said Diane was "free at last", but his comments, in a statement released by the Voluntary Euthanasia Society (VES) yesterday, were tinged with anger.
"Diane had to go through the one thing she had foreseen and was afraid of going through and there was nothing I could do to help," he said.