'Cowardice of politicians' forces BBC woman to die at Dignitas

A TERMINALLY ill former BBC producer has criticised the "cowardice of politicians" for forcing her to travel to Switzerland to end her life.

Geraldine McClelland, who produced programmes such as Watchdog and Crimewatch before retiring ten years ago, died yesterday at the Dignitas clinic (above) in Zurich with her family around her. The 61-year-old had been suffering from lung and liver cancer which developed from breast cancer two years ago.

In a letter to The Guardian published today, she wrote: "I am not sad that I will die today. I am angry that because of the cowardice of our politicians I can't die in the country I was born in, in my own home, but I am not sad. I feel sure this is the right decision for me and I am relieved that I won't be forced to suffer any more."

McClelland said she was "one of the lucky ones" because she could afford the Dignitas clinic's fees and hadn't been forced to attempt suicide at home. She urged readers of her letter not to feel sad. "If you feel anything at all, please turn it into a fight to change the law so that other people don't have to travel abroad to die."

Helping someone to commit suicide is a criminal offence in England and Wales and can attract a prison sentence of up to 14 years. Two years ago the Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer issued new guidance to spell out the circumstances under which somebody could assist a suicide and avoid court action.

This included whether the person assisting stood to gain financially, and whether the person being helped to die was competent to make the decision. However, Starmer said: "There are no guarantees against prosecution."

McClelland writes in her letter: "I don't believe that my brother and sister should have to break the law so that they can be with me when I die." ·