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| Dying BBC producer calls for assisted suicide law change | Dying BBC producer calls for assisted suicide law change |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A producer who travelled to Switzerland to take her own life with the help of others has accused politicians of "cowardice" over suicide laws. | |
| Geraldine McClelland, of White City, west London, travelled to the Dignitas facility to end her life on Wednesday. | Geraldine McClelland, of White City, west London, travelled to the Dignitas facility to end her life on Wednesday. |
| Ms McClelland, 61, who produced Watchdog and Crimewatch for the BBC, was dying of lung and liver cancer. | Ms McClelland, 61, who produced Watchdog and Crimewatch for the BBC, was dying of lung and liver cancer. |
| In a letter published hours after her death she urged politicians to legalise assisted suicide. | In a letter published hours after her death she urged politicians to legalise assisted suicide. |
| Ms McClelland said in the letter that she was "angry that because of the cowardice of our politicians I can't die in the country I was born in, in my own home". | Ms McClelland said in the letter that she was "angry that because of the cowardice of our politicians I can't die in the country I was born in, in my own home". |
| She continued: "I would like to be able to choose to take medication to end my life if my suffering becomes unbearable for me, at home, with my family and friends around me. | She continued: "I would like to be able to choose to take medication to end my life if my suffering becomes unbearable for me, at home, with my family and friends around me. |
| "But the law in this country prevents me from doing so." | "But the law in this country prevents me from doing so." |
| Ms McClelland said her dying wish was for people to talk about her death. | Ms McClelland said her dying wish was for people to talk about her death. |
| Her letter was released, in accordance with her wishes, by the campaign group Dignity in Dying, which wants a change to the law. | Her letter was released, in accordance with her wishes, by the campaign group Dignity in Dying, which wants a change to the law. |
| The letter concluded: "I believe that as part of my end-of-life care, which has otherwise been good, I should have been allowed to choose not to endure the last weeks of my life, and I believe you should have that choice when you are dying, too. | |
| "I don't believe that my brother and sister should have to break the law so that they can be with me when I die. | "I don't believe that my brother and sister should have to break the law so that they can be with me when I die. |
| "Your loved ones should not be in that position either." | "Your loved ones should not be in that position either." |
| Organisations such as Care Not Killing argue against assisted suicide, calling for palliative care instead. | Organisations such as Care Not Killing argue against assisted suicide, calling for palliative care instead. |
| The group says that if assisted suicide was legal, it would be too easy for vulnerable people to be pressured into it by feelings of guilt at the burden they are imposing. | |
| Care Not Killing has yet to comment on Ms McClelland's letter. | Care Not Killing has yet to comment on Ms McClelland's letter. |