SINCE becoming ill over the last year, I have become an avid listener of Revival Radio, a Christian radio station located in Cumbernauld.

As well as playing well-known hymns and less well known songs, the station has regular discussions on up-to-date topics of human interest.

Recently they were discussing the right to die campaign, whose recent greatest advocate was the late Margo MacDonald, and as the programme progressed I became more and more disillusioned by some people's thinking on this serious matter. The discussion covered a frightening development by proponents who think that old people should consider suicide as a way of relieving the care professions of their responsibilities to them, and also to help save money in the long run for the younger, up-and-coming in society. It was mentioned that it costs five times more to care for someone with dementia than for someone with cancer, so this would be a way of reducing that bill.

Did I hear right? How do you cost a life, and what is its price? And how old is old? To me a life is precious and priceless, and everyone should be allowed to live theirs in peace, and live out their days (if it becomes necessary) by relying on the care professions whose raison d'etre is and should be to look after society, no matter the cost.

I firmly believe that our lives, given by God, are also only God's to take, not ours in any shape or form.

John Ross,

45 Fereneze Avenue, Clarkston.