Is it time to legislate on assisted dying?

THE Royal College of Physicians is to drop its opposition to assisted dying (Mail). How disgraceful that they have ignored the majority of their members who do not want a change in the law. This is bad news for those doctors, including my daughter, who work tirelessly to care for the terminally ill. How long before they are forced to help their patients to die? And if they refuse, what support will the Royal College offer them? Lib Dem leader Vince Cable talks about safeguards, which was a word used by David Steel when he introduced the 1967 Abortion Bill. Safeguards aren’t worth the paper they are written on.

ANNE GINTY, address supplied. I’M GRATEFUL that the Royal College of Physicians has voted for a neutral stance on doctor-assisted dying. In opinion polls, 82 per cent say they are in favour of medical help to die for terminally ill patients in great pain who request it. Doctors intervene in all stages of life, so why can’t they use their skills to bring about a peaceful death if this is the patient’s wish? Experts say palliative care needs an overhaul as some patients suffer great pain at the end of life. Relatives can be traumatised after seeing their loved one suffering. Increasing numbers of countries allow assisted dying, including parts of the U.S. and Europe, Australia and Canada. I believe many people would enjoy their lives more if they didn’t have the fear they may one day suffer a long, painful and undignified death. Many of us would not want our family to see us in such a condition. We must stop seeing death as a failure and allow people to be released from suffering, if this is their choice.

Name supplied, Ruislip, Middlesex.