This letter and others on these pages give examples of good points to raise in writing to MPs or Peers about the Joffe Bill. Put the ideas in your own words and add a personal angle based on your own experience of the issues.

Dear...

I am writing to express my concern about the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill, which aims to legalise assisted suicide and receives its second reading in the House of Lords on 12 May.

Those caring for the dying know that the relatively few who currently ask for euthanasia or assisted suicide usually have another question behind their question. This may be physical - a distressing symptom needs palliation; psychosocial - they may want an honest discussion with their family; emotional – they may be depressed; or spiritual.

Depression is particularly common in terminally ill patients and leads to suicidal thoughts; and yet in most cases it can be effectively treated. Requests for euthanasia are extremely rare when patients are properly cared for and physical, psychosocial, emotional and spiritual needs are properly met.

Our key priority must therefore be to make the highest quality palliative care more widely available not to make it legal for desperate people to ask their doctors for help to kill themselves.

I urge you to oppose this bill.

Yours sincerely