Thanks Houellebecq: that's an interesting new term, 'alteration' - the forces of death are nothing if not innovative, aren't they ?

No, we don't have any obligation to society to keep living, that's true. But society, all of us, you and me, have obligations, if we value the lives of others, to encourage people in despair and misery to re-assess their options. Of course, it is up to them, that's their right as autonomous human beings. But as an atheist, I am aware that we have one life, on this planet, and no other. We each have our one flash of eternity and that's it.

Of course, it can be presumptuous to assume some sort of never-say-die, always-look-on-the-bright-side-of-life, approach. Of course, it should be every person's right to die on their own terms, at their own chosen time, if they wish. But surely, if we care for someone, we should be trying to persuade them to re-consider finishing themselves off, the end, period.

Joe Lane