By Sarah Smithon Thursday, 19 Oct 2006 Lesley Close's brother John was 53 when he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, and he eventually took the decision to commit assisted suicide.
Speaking to the Sun, she said: "He had reached the end of the road as far as his illness was concerned and this was the release that he really wanted."
Assisted suicide is illegal in Britain but the charity Dignitas helps people die in Switzerland. So far, at least 54 people have made the trip to the Zurich-based charity to die.
John Close discovered he had motor neurone disease in 2001 but remained active and creative while he still could. He was a singer-songwriter in his spare time and used the time that was left to him to record every song he had written.
However, two years later his life had become very difficult and he expressed a desire to commit assisted suicide.
When he flew to Zurich with Lesley, they were met by a Dignitas representative, who asked John all kinds of questions, such as "Are you tired of life?". He responded: "No, I'm not tired of life, I'm tired of living with MND."
Lesley believes that the law in Britain should be changed so that those who are terminally ill yet mentally competent can have the right to die without travelling abroad.
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