There is great danger in legalising assisted suicide

When considering vulnerability of patients, the British House of Lords Select Committee on Medical Ethics concluded that: "Belief in the special worth of human life is at the heart of civilised society. It is the fundamental value on which all others are based, and is the foundation of both law and medical practice... Society's prohibition of intentional killing... is the cornerstone of law and social relationships. It protects each one of us impartially, embodying the belief that all are equal.

"It would be impossible to frame adequate safeguards against non-voluntary euthanasia if voluntary euthanasia were to be legalised. It would be next to impossible to ensure that all acts of euthanasia were truly voluntary and that any liberalisation of the law was not abused."

Philip Nitschke co-wrote an article in the medical journal The Lancet detailing the experience with euthanasia in the Northern Territory. The article revealed that "pain was not a prominent clinical issue in our study. Fatigue, frailty, depression and other symptoms contributed more to the suffering of patients". These are the factors that should be addressed if we are to prevent more people abandoning themselves to the despair of suicide.

The drive for euthanasia may well reflect a lack of understanding of the treatment options available to people with a terminal illness. Palliative care accepts that a point has been reached where a cure is no longer possible. It switches emphasis from medical treatment to treating symptoms so that the patient can live or die in the most comfort possible.

While it's not easy to be dependent on carers, we must continue to support patients by insisting on their worth and value. We should not be agreeing to help them to end their lives.