Dear Editor,

After having read the article published in The Guardian on 11th March 2010, I would like to contribute some considerations about assisted suicide – an issue I strongly believe is crucial to resolve as soon as possible.

We need to think about all of those people who suffer terminal illnesses and unbearable pain, as well as of those patients with deteriorated health who do not have any reason or strength to continue with their lives. We cannot ignore their families and the people who help them to die, either. So far, this difficult decision is considered a criminal act.

How many people seek for help in other countries? To avoid this situation, countries should change their laws and legalise assisted dying, allowing people to choose in freedom the possibility of having a peaceful death.

I hope my opinion does not hurt people's feelings because I respect all opinions. But we live in a democracy and I consider the freedom to choose an important issue to defend.

Your sincerely,

Inmaculada Trigo

RESOURCES

The article: Woman convicted of attempted mercy killing takes her own life

For learning vocabulary: Helping patients face death, she fought to live

For improving writing: Strategies for Variation (how to improve language range)