Poll shows backing for 'a good death'

ONLY one in three people would change the law to allow doctors to help physically disabled adults who are not terminally ill to die, a poll shows.

Three in four people said terminally ill adults who want to die should be able to ask their doctor for help, while only one in three said physically disabled adults who were not terminally ill should have the same right.

Sarah Wootton, of Dignity in Dying, said: "The results clearly show that the public support a change in the law to allow assisted dying whereby a terminally ill, mentally competent adult can ask for help to die in their final days or weeks if their suffering becomes unbearable."

"The majority of the public do not support legalising assisted suicide where non-terminally ill people are given assistance to die at their request. The law should reflect this important difference."

She added: "It is now time for decision-makers to ensure that all people can have what they consider to be a good death."