TERRI Bradley has decided how she will die.

Ms Bradley, of Banora Point, lives with constant pain suffering from chronic spinal disc degeneration and osteoarthritis since 1977.

Since that time her condition has worsened to the point where she said there was no more relief available unless she had "high-risk" spinal surgery.

"I am in constant pain, it never stops," Ms Bradley said.

"Naturally when you are in this much pain you get depressed.

"I do volunteer at the police station and I need to volunteer because I have to have something to get up for."

So this 69-year-old pensioner advocate has decided to take her own life in a method and time of her choosing.

"I have always thought we are in charge of our own destiny," Ms Bradley said.

"My three children accept it. They wouldn't fight it... they would understand but they wouldn't be happy losing a parent.

"But I have had this for a long time. I went into the hospital for the spine the first time when I was 35 years old."

Ms Bradley has one last fight in her - to change the NSW laws on euthanasia.

"Because I have these heart turns I wonder if I will be able to do it," she said.

"I could have a big one and get stuck and unable to do it myself.

"So with these laws, sometimes we have to go before we really need to."

Department of Attorney General and Justice spokesman said under NSW law if anyone helped another person to die then murder and manslaughter charges may apply.

In a 2008 case Shirley Justins was convicted of manslaughter in relation to the death of her partner.

After a three-year battle through the courts, Ms Justins pleaded guilty on April 1 this year to the offence of aiding or abetting suicide/attempted suicide of another.

The Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the plea.

On May 26 Justice Megan Latham ruled that Ms Justins did not have to serve any more jail time.

Exit International is a support service for people wanting to take their own life and an advocate for changing the laws on assisted suicide.

Gold Coast chapter co-ordinator Elaine Arch-Rowe said the group had more than 100 members in Tweed and the Gold Coast.

"Quite a few people are not ill, but it is important to them to want a choice when the time comes," Ms Arch-Rowe said.

Ms Arch-Rowe said the laws needed changing to avoid having people leave it too late and thus become incapable of taking their own life.

"I could say do it sooner, but I don't want people to die," she said.

If you need help or support: Lifeline runs a 24-hour phone counselling service on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue's helpline is 1300 224 636.