British couple leaves suicide note criticizing anti- aid-in-dying policies

Dennis and Flora Milner, aged 83 and 81, were found dead in their home in Newbury on Sunday, police confirmed.  A letter and statement saying they had “chosen to peacefully end our lives” was delivered to BBC South on Tuesday.  Theysaid they wanted to highlight the “serious human dilemma” whichprevents people from legally ending their own lives with loved onesaround them.  Mr and Mrs Milner’s daughter Chrissysaid her parents had been in good health but did not want to get to astage were they would be too ill to care for themselves.  She said they had told her: “We won’t be here for Christmas.”  Their statement, sent to the BBC and headlined “a personal criticalself assessment”, appeared to be signed by both husband and wife.

It read: “We have been fortunate to have lived through and enjoyed 80 plus years of a happy, loving and exciting life.Itwould be impossible to thank all the people and organisations whichevery day, without fail, have contributed to our lifespan.There’sjust one outstanding [group] which we think everyone would go alongwith, the medical profession and the NHS in which they serve. They haveusefully extended our lives by at least 25-30 years. We leave this life with just one serious and disappointing criticism of our society.  Todaywe have been denied what we believe to be our basic human right – toterminate our own lives, in our own home, at our own choosing, with ourloved ones around us, without anyone having to face any legalpossibilities or harassment.”

Source:  BBC, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/berkshire/8340808.stm