The tireless efforts of right-to-die campaigner Tony Nicklinson and his supporters to fight for a change in the law will continue, experts have said.

Penney Lewis, professor of law at the Centre of Medical Law and Ethics at King’s College London, said that Mr Nicklinson’s plight would continue to raise questions about a change in the law, after being denied the right to die by High Court judges last week in a landmark ruling. But she said Parliamentarians seemed “disinclined” to address it.

Prof. Lewis added: “He was directly challenging the law. I think he has quite a significant role in the history of legal challenges in this context.

“There have been very high-profile (right-to-die) campaigns, and Parliament seems disinclined to resolve them.

“There is a lot of speculation about why that is, and I think one reason certainly is that it is a divisive issue.

“If you’re a parliamentarian in the House of Commons you have to think about when you are going to be standing for re-election, and taking a stand on such a divisive issue might well cost some votes.”

Thousands of well-wishers took to social networking sites after news of Mr Nicklinson’s death was announced.

Prof. Lewis said: “I think most people in the aftermath of a death of someone who has been in our consciousness for a while are focused on the human aspect of the sadness of his death. I think a lot of people with that image in mind of him appearing so distressed after the decision at the High Court last week will be thinking about that”.

Another man, known only as Martin, also lost his High Court case to end his life with medical help last week, after judges said it was up to Parliament to change the law.

Prof. Lewis said there was still the possibility that Martin’s challenge would continue.