People, especially relatives can be extremely emotionally manipulative, how do you know a choice was made free of some subtle duress? Assisted suicide is unlawful in this country, and those engaged in this activity criminals.

kevin, Lincoln, UK

my mother died twelve years ago. she was very disabled by Parkinsons disease for many years and had zero quality of life for the last eighteen months at least. If euthanasia had been available I am sure she would have wanted it, but i am equally sure I could not have gone through with it.

Carol, Harrow, UK

The modern push for euthanasia has its roots in Eugenics, one of the most horrible chapters in modern medicine. If the "right to die" ideology is accepted, then similar lines of reasoning will follow, and those lines lead to the doors of a place like Dachau.

Ben Schonewald, Tucson, Arizona

To wish to die because of intolerable chronic suffering is not and should not be a crime nor forbidden. To call the wish to die a crime or forbid the victim's wish IS a crime.

SanYing, Montreal, Canada

My uncle has had Huntington's Disease for 20 odd years and for the past five his quality of life has been zero to none. A decade ago my father died an agonising death from lung cancer. I heartily wish euthanasia was legal in all OECD countries.

Deborah Marshall, Brisbane, Australia

I have a job that requires me to be around folks that are actively dieing. As a infant struggles to come into life,for some it is a struggle to leave it. Who decides? Hitler had no problem deciding.As other cultures of death. We must chose life or we become barbaric and eugenics is the instrument

Libby, salem, usa

There is a clear policy on Euthanasia. It's called MURDER, and it's illegal.

Steve, Bristol,

I certainly believe that people of all ability levels should have the right to die on their own terms. If we eliminate the pressures on those who are forced into feeling like our lives are less worthy, then assisted suicide becomes an ethical option. Currently there would be pressure on people.

Rebecca, USA,

I'm an able bodied girl whose ex-boyf is a paraplegic. I broke up with him because he was too sporty for me! He water & snow skiied, & played tennis & basketball - I couldn't keep up! Yes, paraplegia can be demoralising in a world built for able bods, but it's not the end of a fulfilling life.

Michelle, London, UK

The only people whose opinions count on this are the people who might one day have cause to want euthanasia legalised. Let the severely disabled have the debate. Similarly, women alone should be the ones discussing abortion. After all, an embryo is not a tumour-like life sentence for a man is it?

Alba, Southampton,

My grandmother died in a hospital in pain, fading away to nothing, kept alive only by a nasal drip, when she really did not want to continue living. It's disgusting, we would never allow an animal to suffer in the manner in which we allow humans to, why shouldn't people be allowed to choose to die?

Helen, Sheffield, UK

I fully believe in euthenasia and believe it should be legalized. How can a governmental body or a legal system tell you what you should do with your own life? That is absolutely crazy. Legalize euthenasia now. God will allow you into Heaven once saved...

michelle, Pensacola, USA

My father, in his 80s, now is both mentally and physically frail. Living in a small nursing home, he cannot walk and wears a diaper. He says he has had a wonderful life but has no future. He prays each night that he will not wake up in the morning.

John, , USA

If I kill myself quickly with a gun it's suicide but if a company sells me the products to do it slowly (say, with cigarettes) then it is commerce. What a peculiar world we live in.

Clare, London, UK

Graham Morris,Newark- I totally agree with what you are saying.

Chris Pilkington, Hassocks, UK

We all have the right to commit suicide - taking moments or hours to die by our chosen method. By not making provision for a disabled person who has the mental but not physical capacity to do the same we are discriminating against him/her. The only option left-starvation is an inhumane way to die!

Andy, London,

Why is it the middle-aged women columnists who are so keen on this? Do they really dislike their parents that much?

Stephen, Twtichen, Shropshire

Doctors don't "save lives" because everybody dies, at best they merely extend life, and they have no right to torture someone for the remaining period of their life. A robust process is required to allow the humane and diginfied passing of someone who wishes to go, and to protect those who assist.

Chris, Derby,

Dear Libby, You can be disabled and live a worthwhile life. But
those want to change the law, base their case on this is wrong. It is we the disabled, that are doing the prattling. We
do not want to live in yourt Brave New World.

Gerald R.C.Hildreth, Wimbledon, Great Britain

If I had a dog that was incurably ill and I left it to suffer until it died naturally, I could be prosecuted for cruelty as I didn't take it to the vet to be put down humanely. If a person is incurably ill, they have to suffer until they die naturally, even if they don't want to. Why is this right?

Sheena, Somerset ,

Be careful what you ask for. If DPP says they WILL prosecute, how does that help Ms Purdy? DPP cannot say they will not prosecute. Parliament makes law, not CPS. Declaring that a law will not be enforced will lead to chaos. This law exists to protect those who feel pressured to die, I agree with it.

John, london, UK

Doctors do assist people to die. Consider my father. In a hospice with terminal cancer, he was not in pain just discomfort from a body riddled by caner. He did not need strong pain killers but was given a form of morphine which gently pushed him over the edge. The year? 1978.

James B, France,

While there is life, there is hope, or there should be. I wish the focus was on doing everything possible to make life good for people who have to adapt to severe disability. It takes a long time to rebuild a life, it happens a day at a time. The fragility of life makes it all the more precious.

Siobhan, Thoiry, France

There are two wellsprings of our culture. In the Classical tradition, it was clear that there could be a time to die, and a good death, for your own sake rather than as religious martyrdom. In the Christian tradition, that notion was lost. We need to recover the Classical tradition.

Richard Baron, London,

The saga of the Abortion Act, which despite 'guarantees' it would not be abortion -on- demand has become just that with a foetal holocaust. should act as an awful warning. 'Legalised' euthanasia would be abused wholesale; no doubt some state body would label some not 'cost effective' therfore ...

Dr J Findlater, Carnforth,

It is not just a matter of oppinion, I may wish to dye but the point is, should we legalize a culture of death? shouldn't we looking for means and tools and methods to make people's life bearable and happy? Love is free but isn't it true we just can't be bothered with it? more so if it hurts

Carmen, London,

I find it strange that we are ready to criticise a person who has decided for themselves to take a course of action that ends their life, yet society readily accepts abortion, where the child in question has no say in the matter!

Graham Morris, Newark, Nottinghamshire

Derek, London UK - here here! Well put - am with you entirely on this one, but would like to add that pain can be mental, not just physical - as I'm sure you meant. I can't imagine how anyone can even begin to pontificate - most of those who do are usually able-bodied and free of any terminal illnes

Sarah, Dordogne, France

Thankyou for an objective article that incites me, the reader, to actually consider the people who are making these decisions; rather than the judgements we make concerning them.

Seb, Trowbridge,

Typical HMG, turn Britain into a seriously awful country in which to live and then start getting concerned about suicide, euthanasia and variations in between. Has to be an option being considered by those that have seen their pension and seen their retirement plans go down the drain. Surprised Boot's don't offer a "Goodbye Cruel World" DIY kit. But really all you need is a bottle whisky and a large packet of paracetamol.

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Japan

Having seen this in my own family..each 'case' is different...like a 'finger print'.. No 2 alike....Hospics were wonderful for my family case...

Mr Tim, san marcos, U S of A

Euthanasia can be helpful for the state for it reduces expenditures towards sufferers of terminally ill diseases.However i personally think that,the process of euthanasia must take place after clear reasons and explanations with proofs are obtained to prevent its abuse.

zdrift E, Goodlands, Mauritius

I'm always bemused (appalled, actually) how those who tut tut about easy dying usually won't be affected in any way by a fellow citizen's easy death (or their life, for that matter) but they'll tut tut nevertheless!

Paul Neri, Canberra, Australia

Clive of Surrey is right. Ms. Purves accepts terminally ill but appears to be drawing a line, or trying to, on others, the recently disabled or chronically ill, from deciding for themselves. As far as I am concerned, the individual has the right to determine what they want to do.

Jamie, Washington DC, USA

My dear old friend, a war hero, decided at the age of 83 that he had enough. He was an Air Commodore highly decorated and did not wish to spend his last days in pain. He just stopped drinking water and just drank whisky. The gestapo could not break him, so no one else would be able to. New law now.

m wilson, bidache, France

Here's a clear policy - it's for an individual, not the state, to decide when they don't want to go on living. Easy, isn't it.

Yes, we have to protect the elderly/infirm from others making decisions for them/pressuring them, but sane individuals should be able to kill themselves lawfully.

Clive, Surrey,

How unfortunate humans do not come equipped with an on-off switch. When you've had enough
you could go out on your own terms.

Bruce L. Northwood, Washington, D.C., USA

When I hear people sanctimoniously pontificating about how terminally ill or severely disabled human beings should not have the right to end their lives my blood boils! How passive aggressive is that! Human rights should include the right to end our own lives when we are in incurable pain.

Derek, London, UK