SIR – If you want to commit suicide, go ahead and do it. It’s a free country. If you want me to help you, I see no objection in principle.

But in practice I might be concerned that after you are gone I am the only witness. That concern might be heightened if you are one of those poor souls who is so ill as to be unable to communicate a wish, so that I have to make the decision for you.

I have these concerns because I am a nice, genuine chap who just wants the best for you. So I suppose a law that said I could get on with it and quote ‘mercy killing’ to the authorities as a sort of ‘get out of jail free’ card would be very useful.

The trouble is that not everybody is as nice as me.

John Wilson, Wilsons Solicitors, New Road Side, Horsforth