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A former accountant died today in the Swiss clinic Dignitas, writing an open letter to the government calling for laws surrounding assisted suicide to be changed.

Geoff Whaley, 80, of Chalfont St Peter in Buckinghamshire, took his own life at 10am today to avoid a protracted death from motor neurone disease, which he was diagnosed with two years ago.

He penned an open letter to the government ahead of travelling to the clinic in Switzerland.

He wrote: "By the time you read this, I will be dead.

"On Thursday 7th February 2019, I will have taken medication that will end my life, surrounded by my wife, Ann, my children, Alix and Dominic, and a couple of my dearest friends at the Dignitas facility in Switzerland. With their love and support I have been able to fulfil my final wish: to be in control of my end, rather than endure the immense suffering motor neurone disease had in store for me...

"The law in this country robbed me of control over my death. It forced me to seek solace in Switzerland. Then it sought to punish those attempting to help me get there. The hypocrisy and cruelty of this is astounding."

His wife Ann, 76, supported his decision, but found herself being interviewed under caution by Thames Valley Police after someone tipped them off.

Helping someone commit suicide is punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

She faced the possibility of criminal charges having booked flights to Switzerland and a hotel because her husband can no longer use his hands.

She said she told everything to police because she "didn't feel like she'd done anything wrong."

"My whole attitude through Geoffrey's illness is that I'm here to protect him from all the slings and arrows from the outside world so that he can enjoy the time he's here.

"It was so ridiculous to put us through this when he was in the final few days of his life."

Police later dropped the case but it may be reopened if new information comes to light.

In an interview with the Times, Mr Whaley said: "I really wanted a quiet few weeks to reflect on what is happening and that's when the bomb dropped."

He said the added stress of police involvement had "destroyed everything we had done to prepare ourselves".

Mrs Whaley said: "In 52 years of married life, Geoff has never cried, but that day, he put his head down and sobbed. That made me very angry.

"I wasn't frightened because I didn't feel like I'd done anything wrong. I wasn't ashamed. I was cross.

"My whole attitude throughout Geoffrey's illness is that I'm here to protect him from all the slings and arrows from the outside world so that he can enjoy the time he's here.

"It was so ridiculous to put us through this when he is in the final few days of life."

The couple - who have two adopted children and four grandchildren - want to see the law changed to allow assisted dying in some circumstances.

They believe the law can be written to ensure vulnerable people are still protected from abuse.

At least three Britons have faced a police investigation after returning from a loved one's assisted death at a Dignitas clinic, the Times reported, although no-one has been prosecuted.

When asked if he is concerned about the consequences his wife could face, Mr Whaley replied: "Ann can handle anything.

"The one thing that has worried me all along is leaving Ann because I've spent all my life protecting her. Now she'll be without me, but I know she'll get through it."