<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Q &amp; A</h2>

The programme was hosted by the fantasy novelist, Sir Terry Pratchett. Why? Because he has Alzheimer's diseaseA progressive disease that causes brain damage over time. It is a common cause of dementia. , and there'll come a time, he says, when he will wish to die, "peacefully with medical help, rather than suffer".

And that's the problem. According to British law, when you die is not in your control; nature must decide when your suffering ends. But Pratchett says everyone has the right to choose their moment and used this programme to state his case.

The film showed Peter Smedley, a 71-year-old hotel owner, travelling from his home in Guernsey to Switzerland and taking a lethal dose of drugs given to him by the DignitasA clinic in Switzerland which is able, within the law, to help people commit suicide. staff.

He suffered from motor neurone diseaseThe condition causes neurons in the brain to break down. This causes muscles to slowly weaken making everyday tasks difficult or impossible. The progressive disease leads to loss of mobility in the limbs, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing., which affects the body rather than the mind; he could barely stand. "It's a beastly and undignified business," he said of the condition.

The cameras revealed Smedley sitting on a sofa. He politely thanked those around him and shook Pratchett's hand. He drank the poison and made some gasping noises before falling deeply asleep. He was then shown dead, without viewers having seen his last breath. His wife Christine watched stoicallyTo take something with apparent indifference, without expressing emotion; unaffected by pleasure or pain. The word comes from Stoicism, a Greek philosophical movement that began in 3rd Century BC., holding back the tears until he was gone.

While many praised the sensitive handling of the issue, others were critical of the film. Liz Carr, a disability campaigner, said it was pro-suicide propaganda and that she was surprised the BBC had made it.

"I and many other disabled older and terminally-ill people are quite fearful of what legalising assisted suicide would do and mean."

She fears that if assisted suicide is made legal, pressure will be put on the old and unwell by relatives who don't want to face the cost of their care.

Pratchett admits that his own wife wants to take care of him until the end and doesn't want him to take his own life. He also met a taxi driver who had motor neurone disease and, after considering Dignitas, chose to live out his days in an hospiceA medical facility that focuses on providing care and comfort for those with untreatable conditions. .

But Pratchett wants to make that choice himself. "I know the time will come when words will fail me," he said. "Then, I don't want to go on living."

For and against

Those against changing the law on assisted suicide say current practice both enshrines the value of each human life and protects the vulnerable from exploitation.

Others, like Terry Pratchett, say that the individual's right to choose when they die must come before all other considerations.

Are British politicians calling for change in the law? Not openly, despite a recent YouGov poll showing 86% of British people support the idea. Debbie Purdy, who has multiple sclerosis and wishes to die, believes politicians are out of touch. 'Politicians haven't kept up,' she says. 'Lawyers and judges have been the only people who have been prepared to defend my rights.'

Is it just the terminally ill who use Dignitas? Not at all. Many who choose to die do so simply because their quality of life isn't as they would wish it to be. But some think it's dangerous making it a 'lifestyle' choice.

What's the answer? Not easy to say. There are strong feelings on both sides. But most people probably want a law that both allows people to die with dignity yet also has strong safeguards to ensure the vulnerable are protected.

BBC - The British Broadcasting Corporation is the UK's national broadcaster.

Alzheimer's disease - A progressive disease that causes brain damage over time. It is a common cause of dementia.

Dignitas - A clinic in Switzerland which is able, within the law, to help people commit suicide.

Motor neurone disease - The condition causes neurons in the brain to break down. This causes muscles to slowly weaken making everyday tasks difficult or impossible. The progressive disease leads to loss of mobility in the limbs, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing.

Stoically - To take something with apparent indifference, without expressing emotion; unaffected by pleasure or pain. The word comes from Stoicism, a Greek philosophical movement that began in 3rd Century BC.

Hospice - A medical facility that focuses on providing care and comfort for those with untreatable conditions.