Lynn Daly had a paragraph headed Death With Dignity in her column (The Argus, March 1).

Commenting on the sad death of Peter Chesterfield, who was not granted his last wish to have assisted suicide, she suggests this adds further weight to the argument that many Britons want the right to be allowed to die in dignity.

In arguing the case for voluntary euthanasia, we forget we are asking

doctors to take life when they are in a profession whose object is, where possible, to save life and at all times to bring comfort and pain relief to the patients.

Human beings are not like cats and dogs. They are complex creatures with highly-developed brains and an awareness of the spiritual aspect of things. We as Christians believe they are made in the image of God, however perverted it has become.

The hospice movement recognises this and in our own Martlets Hospice (whose skills in palliative care are also shared with many nursing homes), people receive death with dignity.

In the nursing home where I am honorary chaplain, The Downs in Laburnum Avenue, Hove, we care for terminally-ill people, some with cancer.

We ensure their pain is kept under control; their spiritual needs are catered for and support is given to relatives and friends, who face the fact their loved ones are suffering and finally in their bereavement.

We need more hospices in this city and we must do all we can to support Martlets in its excellent work, encouraging the Government to put more money into the care of the terminally ill and encouraging and funding research into the terrible disease of cancer.

-Rev. John Webster, Hove