Letter: Patient's suicide offers sad lessons

Sir: The feature 'The doctor who prescribed suicide' affected me deeply. I have personally experienced long-standing despair similar to the Dutch woman who sought death from that doctor. I was thought to have such a negative prognosis that my former GP removed me from her list.

Fortunately, it is still very hard for a person of sane desperation to convince a British doctor to help her die. I did my best and tried several - I came close to success.

From a woman with no hope and no future, I am now becoming someone who could both cry with a friend over your article and also share a bottle of champagne to celebrate life. My desire now is that British doctors will choose to face this desperate issue with courage and speed.

Yours faithfully,

VICTORIA LAVIN

Guildford, Surrey

1 July