I am 85 and there is nothing worse than fearing a painful, prolonged death, which is what it seems to me Maureen Stack is so keen to promote (Letters, May 13).

I have personally seen the mother of a friend pleading to be allowed to die but, of course, with legislation as it is, and as it hopefully will end, the hospital had to resuscitate her again and again.

It was most painful to watch and it left me with the unshaken desire to be left to die in peace, with no resuscitation ever.

The worst of it is doctors and nurses are terrified they will be held responsible and possibly indicted for an illegal act unless they perform this cruelty over and over.

Let voluntary euthanasia flourish just as soon as Lord Joffe can get it passed into law.

I would ask readers to write to him at the House of Lords and support his views and actions.

-HE Lobstein, Brighton