Have your say on suicide couple

Dennis and Flora Milner said they wanted to highlight a 'serious human dilemma'

A Newbury couple in their eighties have killed themselves after sending a suicide letter to the BBC criticising UK euthanasia laws.

Dennis and Flora Milner sent a letter saying they had "chosen to peacefully end our lives" which was delivered to BBC South on Tuesday, 4 November, 2009.

Police confirmed that Dennis and Flora Milner, aged 83 and 81, were found dead in their home in Newbury on Sunday.

Their daughter Chrissy Milner, spoke to the BBC about her parents' decision.

She said. "My parents had been very honest and very open with us for quite some time. They said it was their intention to commit suicide and they certainly would have done it before Christmas.

"It was their choice to go, it was their decision to commit suicide, and they had very sound reasons for doing so.

"Because it was their choice we wouldn't have considered for one moment trying to talk them out of it."

Chrissy said her parents had age-related illnesses which would have eventually caused them to lose their independence, although her parents were fit and well up to the end of their lives.

She explained: "They didn't want to go into a residential home or a nursing home .. they had been together 58 years and I think they were fearful that one would die before the other, and that the one that remained would be very lonely.

"I think that was something that they wanted to avoid."

In their final letter to the BBC, the couple wanted to highlight a "serious human dilemma".

The Milner's statement, sent to the BBC and headlined "a personal critical self assessment", appeared to be signed by both husband and wife.

It read: "We have been fortunate to have lived through and enjoyed 80 plus years of a happy, loving and exciting life.

"We leave this life with just one serious and disappointing criticism of our society.

"Today we have been denied what we believe to be our basic human right - to terminate our own lives, in our own home, at our own choosing, with our loved ones around us, without anyone having to face any legal possibilities or harassment."

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11 RS

Our class of 11 pupils voted on the subject. 5 pupils agreed with the course of action taken by Flora and Dennis.

Julie, Wokingham

The problem this couple had seems to have been a fear of going into a care home, possibly separately. The solution to this problem is not suicide, but an overhaul of the care home system

Deb, Thatcham

i fully support their decision. they had their reasons and they were personal to them. rest in peace together as they were in life.

Susan Rollins, Crowthorne

What a sad story this was. The daughter said it all. She 'would not have dreamed of talking them out of it' because they feared the 'loneliness' of being in a 'nursing home or living alone'. She knew they were planning it and never thought of saying, 'Mum and Dad, I promise you, you will never be alone, because I and my siblings will never leave you in loneliness. We will all, with our families, take you into our homes, caring for you tenderly until you die. We will resist putting you in a home until the last possible moment, and if the worst happens, we will still surround you with love and our daily presence.'

What a hell we make of life when we don't let the love of God into it.

Pamela, Wokingham

I full support their decision and hope the relatives of this couple will feel very proud of them for taking it.

I wish decisions like this could be taken without so much hype, they had had a long and happy life together and didn't want it to end in a sad way. We all know that with the best intentions in the world we cannot stop the unhappiness some people suffer when they get into their last years.

God bless them both.

Mum of 2, Reading

No matter what the daughter says I think this couple were very selfish to leave the family to pick up the pieces.

Caryl McMillan, Reading

I was upset to read about this couple as my own parents are 83 and 81 next birthday. My mother is diabetic and visually impaired and has recently broken her wrist. My father who has kept himself fit and healthy is her registered carer. They take great pleasure is seeing their grandchildren when they visit and the children love to visit. We will be devastated when they die but to think that they would pre-empt this moment for no good reason except what might happen would greatly distress me. I do not this incident contributes to the pro euthanasia debate at all.

MH

What a sad reflection on our society, that these two were unable to be confident of receiving loving care and support from their community. No one should be frightened of growing old. We have a lot to learn from other cultures.

Damian & Jenny, Bedford

Not an easy decision for them to make but they were no doubt determined to remain in control so they have to be admired. The family knew their parents were ready to go - who is anyone to stop them. If only a suitable dose was made available through their GP there would be less risk of a failed attempt but I am convinced that they had done their research over a protracted period. As a culture we treat animals with higher respect and this cannot be right. Roll on the enlightenment, get religion out of politics and lets elect some compassionate and sensible people if there are any standing.