A right to die

sir – You report (October 1) that Prof Paul Cosford, former medical director of Public Health England, has backed assisted dying after developing incurable lung cancer, and describes the current law as “inhumane”.

He “never wanted to be a supporter of changing the law in favour of assisted dying”, but now calls on the Government to understand why “rational, law-abiding people sometimes feel compelled to travel to Switzerland”. His intervention has come after some MPS suggested the law could be changed within four years.

Surely in these days of freedom of choice, terminally ill people should have the right to choose a medically assisted death, just as pregnant women can choose a natural birth or a pain-free epidural. Most people don’t want their loved ones to see them suffering, because they want them to have happier memories.

Ann Wills

Ruislip, Middlesex