As one who many years ago while suffering from a debilitating and painful illness tried to throw myself off Beachy Head, I can fully understand the pressures Robert and Vanessa Cook were under when Robert helped Vanessa to commit suicide (The Argus, February 5). However, I had friends who came to my rescue and by the grace of God I am still with us.

I feel, therefore, that I can speak with some understanding about euthanasia.

Firstly, the sanctity of human life.

It does not belong to us as individuals but is part of a great plan in the hands, I believe, of a creator.

Furthermore, we as individuals are part of society and what we might tolerate for ourselves, could lead to the opening of doors to the detriment of others who do not wish to see their lives terminated at the hands of their fellow men, whether doctors or otherwise.

The answer to the problems faced by such folk as the Cooks is to give better support. Firstly, palliative care needs improving. Why should our hospices rely so much on voluntary support? They should be run by the NHS. Good palliative care could enable people like Sandra Carey- Boggans to live a full life surrounded by her family and prepare herself and them for death. Her diary is an inspiration to us all. Good palliative care involves adequate pain control, psychological and spiritual help.

Euthanasia, to my mind is a defeatist attitude towards death, pain and disease. Our doctors, scientists and other health workers are fighting a daily battle on our behalf.

Would they do so if we gave up the fight and put to sleep the terminally ill, and the physically and mentally disabled? Every human being has the right to life and medical care, including pain control.

  • The Rev John Webster, Hon Chaplain, the Downs Christian Nursing Home