Majority cannot be ignored, says Esther

DAME Esther Rantzen has told MPs they must reflect the views of the vast majority of people who want a change in the assisted dying law.

- Giles Sheldrick

Helping someone to die who is terminally ill is punishable as murder or manslaughter.

But her petition demanding a change, launched with Dignity in Dying and the Daily Express, has been signed by almost 120,000 people.

A Commons debate must now be considered.

Life-long campaigner Dame Esther, who has stage four lung cancer, fears "cruel and outdated" laws will rob her of a pain-free and peaceful death here in Britain.

The 83-year-old, who has signed up to Swiss suicide clinic Dignitas, said: "Politicians need to know how deeply we care about this life and death issue.