WHILST both following and understanding the debate on end of life options (“‘Eleven people a week dying in agony is eleven too many’”, The Herald, October 14, and Letters, October 16) could I perhaps add another dimension to this discussion?

After 53 years of marriage, I was widowed two years ago and quite frankly my life effectively came to an end.

I endeavour, through joining various activities, to maintain some focus and purpose but at the end of the day I always return home to an empty house.

Clearly I too am getting older and, at this stage in life, have witnessed the "difficulties" faced by others whose faculties fade or their physical mobility becomes more limiting and I have vowed, to myself, that these "difficulties" are not going to affect me.

So, with no other option available – other than a trip abroad, I will, were I so afflicted, have to commit suicide.

The big conundrum would be: when?

As things currently stand, were I to be alerted to the onset of early dementia, I’d have to take the appropriate action before I became incapable of doing so. In other words, doing so before it was really necessary – so the lack of current legislation will actually shorten my life.

Obviously my immediate family are aware of my stance on this matter – and are aware that this I see as my last decision.

Alan McKinney, Edinburgh EH16.

DR Findlay Kerr (Letters, October 16) appears to believe that support for physician-assisted death is solely dependent on the "personal opinion and anecdote" of the laity. In fact every non-attributable poll carried out among medics and nurses has found the majority support the merciful release of patients dying in extremis.

Almost every family in the land knows of a loved one who died in excruciating pain on which the legal maximum palliative relief had no effect. I certainly witnessed that time and again in my long career as a parish minister. Such experiences should not be dismissed with "professional" contempt.

Modern medicine can get in the way of nature's merciful release and blind obedience to the Hippocratic oath prolongs death rather than life. Relieving suffering is a key responsibility and helping a patient slip away when palliate care has failed should be seen as a part of an over-all duty of care.

Rev Dr John Cameron, St Andrews.