Sir, Doctors will be discussing the issue of assisted dying at the British Medical Association’s annual representative meeting today, but the debate about changing the law to allow adults, like us, with illnesses that are or can be terminal, to ask for a prescription which we could use to end our suffering, is taking place in the absence of two key elements.

The first is that the views of patients facing the imminent prospect of dying have been entirely ignored. So let us make it clear — the majority of us want this choice. Palliative care can do many things to relieve symptoms but it cannot cure a loss of dignity or the inability to do the things that make life enjoyable. Anyone suggesting this is the answer to this problem is fooling themselves.

The second is the consequence of not changing the law. Keeping the status quo means that a considerable number of patients, many of us among them, will be forced to suffer unbearably. To avoid suffering, we could ask a loved one or doctor to help us to die. But if they respond and get caught, they face a life sentence for murder. Alternatively, we could choose to travel abroad to receive assistance to die, but again, our family or carers could face investigation upon their return. A kind doctor may be willing to provide a very large dose of pain relief to “speed” suffering patients on their way, but doctors say they are increasingly uneasy about doing this because of greater scrutiny.

The cost of doing nothing is terrible suffering. Yet the arguments against doing something are based on unfounded fears. If safeguards can be produced for other aspects of medical practice such as withholding and withdrawal of treatment, surely they can be produced for this.

DONALD BARDOE
Motor neuron disease, Kent

DEBBIE PURDY
Multiple sclerosis, Bradford

KELLY TAYLOR
Eisenmenger syndrome, Bristol

STEVE BARKSBY
Aids, Manchester

LISA COOK
Huntingdon’s disease, Huddersfield

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