I thought that the vote on assisted dying would be in accordance with the conscience of MPs and that the Government would not take sides. So how is it that Wes Streeting is making his views prominent and using his position as Health Secretary to suggest that the NHS will be negatively affected by a vote in favor (legalization of assisted dying could force cuts to the NHS, Wes Streeting warns , November 13 )? I don’t believe that’s true, and it’s certainly irrelevant. People should have a choice at the end of their lives, even if it comes at a cost to the NHS. To deny that is just cruel. Perhaps he should talk to a wider range of dying and elderly people to discover their reality.
Anne Heaton
Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire
As someone who never wants palliative care, no matter how beautifully delivered, I disagree with Wes Streeting’s suggestion that assisted dying would be too expensive and require cuts to other services – and that is what his statement boils down to. Surely it would cost the NHS a lot more to keep me alive (against my wishes) than to give me that one dose to end my life when I want?
Elspeth Christie
Kirkhaugh, Northumberland