An open letter to PM Abbott: the choice of a lifetime

I do not want to end my life on foreign soil. I prefer to end my life surrounded by my families and friends in the city and country I love dearly.

As Australia's ageing population grows in the foreseeable decades, the voice of this generation for the right to die with dignity will become louder. You can be defined as a Prime Minister for the ages, by sponsoring the right to die legislation, legalising same sex marriage, and accepting that climate change is real.

You can go down in history as a greatly revered and respected Australian leader who put aside the politics of fear, of self-interest, and the politics of divide and conquer, to one that embraced inclusiveness and the beliefs of the majority of Australians.

Prime Minister, I have no desire to end my life right now. I love life too much and my quality of life is such that I still enjoy aspects of it, despite my situation. But there will come a time where I choose to end life because it will be too unbearable. This is a right I believe all Australians should have.

I end with a quote by William Jennings Bryan - "Destiny is not a matter of chance. It's a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved". I hope that you will take my hand of hope and offer individuals such as myself to be empowered to make the decision of our life - to end it with dignity, serenity and peace at a timing of our choosing, and not by chance.

I hope to stand beside you and many Australians, on the right side of history, and extend to people their last and lasting wish of their extraordinary life.

Thank you Prime Minister for allowing my voice to be heard.

Yours respectfully,
Dino Cesta