I WRITE regarding the upcoming parliamentary debate on the Assisted Suicide bill.

When someone dies there are all sorts of consequences including financial advantages for relatives, and removal of inconveniences from the person's illness. The reasons for laws against encouraging people to kill themselves are not only moral but also practical.

Surely society needs to protect itself against this rather unscrupulous side of human nature?

Most of us at some stage have to care for someone gravely ill. Old age produces much in the way of suffering and I know problems can be reduced, if not alleviated, by proper care.

People talk about the right of a person to choose to be killed as if it was a simple matter of choosing between a ham or cheese sandwich. In my view, choice is the start of the debate not the end matter.

Clearly, if older or disabled people are made to feel marginal in our society, is it any wonder they ask to be killed?

We often hear about people suffering with illness but this is unnecessary with good palliative care and pain relief. People are frightened of the prospects of suffering but it is clear the euthanasia lobby are playing on these fears in order to achieve their aim.

It's extremely important we don't encourage sick and frightened people to kill themselves. Care, love, and recognition of the inherent value of each person have marked our official and personal attitudes to illness and suffering and the UK will become a frightening place if this ceases.

Of course all sorts of apparently humanitarian arguments will be presented in favour of the planned change.

No doubt, if passed, it won't be long before it is totally abused as it is in countries that have assisted suicide.

In some American states insurance companies can state that their requirement is simply to provide for this new minimum level of care, that is the cost of the lethal injection ($100) leaving the patient the 'choice' of paying for their own pain killing medicine if they have the means. If not, the options are dying in pain or agreeing to assisted suicide by lethal injection.

Some have opted for assisted suicide to spare their children the cost of medication being made to feel obliged to die.

So be careful what you wish for. We're an ageing population which causes great pressure on our NHS. In my view, this law has all the potential of being abused.

I hope it's firmly rejected.

Theresa Butler, Hedworth Gardens