MOST of us can imagine the living nightmare of being struck down by a terminal illness that makes life unendurable. The vast majority of people will turn to their doctor for help with rain relief but a few will say "that's not for me, I don't want to live like this."

The defeat of Lord Jofee's attempt to allow such people to secure medical help to die does not mean the issue will go away.

It will remain prominent so long as individuals in great distress are forced to travel to Switzerland to exercise their free will.

I visited the country two months ago to talk with doctors, lawyers and public prosecutors about the Swiss procedures which permit medical assistance to die if offered for entirely selfless reasons.

All seemed confident that the safeguards they have in place prevent abuse.

Medical assistance to die should never be regarded as an aspect of health policy the priority for the NHS should always be the provision of palliative care. It is simply a matter of human rights and respect for individual choice.

CHRIS DAVIES, Liberal Democrat MEP for the North West.