Parliament's Health Select Committee is beginning a long and thorough look at assisted suicide, and what changes if any are needed to bring the law into line with what society thinks about the issue.

It'll also look at what the rest of the world is doing, and the ethical and moral questions which need to be addressed. It's hugely complicated, but for me the starting point is my belief that people have a right to do what they want with their own lives, including ending that life at a time and in a manner of their own choosing.

It gets more tricky when you start to involve someone else though. Just say you're close to someone who's asking for help, or even simply floating the idea.

Could you handle being the person who flicks the switch...or pushes the button to administer the drugs? Should this be done by a doctor...or two doctors? What right do we have to ask the medics to do this for us? Would a doctor be obliged to help me, if I asked for it? Or should there be specialised clinics where we'd go, with the specific intention of ending our lives? Could we find a way of doing it that wouldn't destroy the internal organs entirely, so there could be something left to benefit others?

What are we going to say to our relatives? And who's going to OK the procedure if I'm a bit doo-lally, and my kids say he'd never have wanted this - which is true - but the docs have no proof?

I've talked before about my own personal experience at the end of my Dad's life. He'd already told me what he wanted, but not my sister. When she found out, she was horrified. And it came at a time she was already distressed and tired from caring for him as his ability to care for himself collapsed. Use your imagination.

The point I'm making here is that while on the surface making assisted suicide legal may seem straightforward - even a no-brainer - we need to tread carefully. Most importantly, whatever happens with the law, you've got to talk to your loved ones about this.

And do it now, while you're well. Make sure they know exactly what your wishes are. Put it in writing even. Don't leave it until it's too late.