Time to change the law on euthanasia

Dear Sir,

In my view the desire of the person involved is paramount in the discussion around euthanasia and assisted dying.

Dying is a social activity and it is wrong that people have to die on their own or under any shame, unless that is their wish.

I understand the concerns of others, as articulated in your article in last week's Chronicle, that a process might be misused for personal gain; it is the job of the police and other authorities to prevent that.

I don't believe, however, that not changing the law because of the fear of its abuse is a sound reason for retaining the status quo.

Laws are designed to promote what is right and prevent what is wrong; sometimes that is easy and sometimes it is not.

Society needs to feel that the laws of the land reflect its views or at least point in a direction that it aspires towards.

Yours faithfully,

(DR) PETER HIRST

Middlewich.