THE co-founder of an Oxfordshire cancer charity has said people with terminal illnesses should be able to choose when to die.

Tracy Staskevich, who founded Chinnor-based Fight Bladder Cancer, has called for a 'good discussion' on whether assisted dying should be legalised in the UK.

The charity is currently supporting 46-year-old Anita Brown, who has terminal bladder cancer, and wants to be able to be given a choice over her death.

Ms Staskevich, whose husband and charity co-founder Andrew Winterbottom has bladder cancer and has recently been transferred to a hospice for end-of-life care, told BBC Oxford: "The charity has no stance on assisted dying at the present time. We have many battles to fight over bladder cancer and it is far down the list. But what we are always supportive of is patient choice.

"I have watched Andrew be diagnosed with a terminal illness and spent ten years supporting people with bladder cancer - half of whom will die from it.

"So we are talking about a lot of people who would like to make choices. Personally, I strongly believe that it should be an individual choice."

She said procedures, similar to those used in Oregon, United States, which has had a dignity in death act since 1997, could be put in place to protect those who are vulnerable.