An Australian court on Friday ruled that a quadriplegic man who has begged to be allowed to die has the right to order his carers to starve him to death.

In a landmark judgement, Western Australia’s chief judge Wayne Martin said the Brightwater Care Group would not be criminally responsible if it stopped feeding and hydrating severely paralysed Christian Rossiter, 49.

Martin said Rossiter had the right to direct his own treatment, and that food and water “should not be administered against his wishes”. “It’s not about euthanasia,” said Martin. “Nor is it about the right to life.”

The ruling sets a legal precedent in Australia, where helping someone take their own life is a punishable crime.

“It’s comforting to know that when you say you’re going to starve yourself to death no-one’s going to come along... and keep you alive to suffer a bit longer,” said Rossiter.