Unlike Adrian Houghton (1), I do not have concerns about how the BMJ reports on the assisted dying discussions. Some religious people and others may have ethical objections to assisted dying, but I wish they could be more tolerant of differences.

The proposals now being considered are for permissive legislation - that is to permit people who, terminally ill, wish help to die. There is no proposal for euthanasia, nor for pressuring people to change their minds, nor for pressuring doctors into carrying out procedures that they may consider unethical. And there is no hostility towards palliative care.

I am pleased that we have such very good palliative care. My brother appreciated it. I do not wish to take it away from anybody. If I become terminally ill, I may want some palliative care, but for as long as I say. However, I do want to take my own life when I decide to, and because it may be hard to do so by myself, I would like to be able to ask for help legally.

Adrian Houghton quotes Sheila Hollins' (2) recent article ('Sick people need help to live, not help to die') in the Telegraph. I have a request. Please do not tell me what I need without checking on my wishes. Please do not tell me that I 'need' help to live when I do not want to live any longer. Doctors are now expected to be consulting patients on their wishes in the spirit of partnership. It's my life, with which I am quite satisfied, and I wish to end it at my own time. I'm sorry if this upsets some people, but we just have different positions.

Government makes laws. Each of us can lobby MPs. Let our professional associations be neutral.

Peter Bruggen, retired psychiatrist,
Interests: member of British Humanist Association

1 Adrian M Houghton Does the BMJ have a particular ideology to pursue in assisted dying?
BMJ 2012;344:e731 4 February 2012
2 Sheila Hollins Sick people need help to live, not help to die. Telegraph 2012 http://tgr.ph/zcZFov.

Competing interests: Interest. Member British Humanist Association