Their right to choose the end
I READ with sadness and sympathy Skye Stowe’s letter (“Watching suffering,” Letters, September 26). No truer words written. I am a registered nurse and have administered many morphine injections, set up syringe drivers and administered breakthrough injections to assist the care of a person in palliative/ terminal phase of their life.
It can be a long and tiring process, mostly painless, but however you look at it, it is distressing to family and friends and health professionals who need to maintain a stoic attitude to the end. The dying person too would like a better management for end of life.
The right to choose to end their life humanely sooner rather than lingering on should not be denied to that person. I hope legislation for voluntary assisted dying comes to pass. I am certain the process can be managed as successfully as palliative care.
AngelaShone
Berriedale
WORDS ARE IMPORTANT
The words we choose to use and the way we use them is important. This is why I am disappointed to read the description of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill as a suicide Bill (“VAD words ”,” Letters, September 26).
I respect that there are people, for many reasons of their own who do not support V AD. It is, I believe, a dishonest and cruel misrepresentation to refer to one’s desire to die, when their death is inevitable, as suicide. By all means it is euthanasia, however, to say suicide
evokes a very different connotation. And it detracts from the purpose and meaning of the what the Bill is trying to legislate. This simply being the right to a choice of how and when to die. Should the circumstance arise one has an alternative option. Possibly, an alternative to suicide as the present situation for some may necessitate. Lee-AnneSpinks
Bellerive
VOLUNTARY FROM THE START
IN response to Gerry McGushin (“Don’ t sanitise language ,” Letters, September 21), calls for accurate use of language when discussing the pro sand cons of proposed Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation is not sanitisation.
Nobody has suggested that it is inaccurate to refer to the proposal as physician assisted suicide, but instead have rightly raised concerns over attempts to misrepresent that regulated medical process as suicide. Also, the apparent euthanasia example of a doctor going ahead when a patient is incapable of consenting would not be considered euthanasia but murder. In clear contrast, the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill before the Tasmanian Parliament requires the patient’s voluntary consent in order for the regulated process to evenbegin.
MaxineEyles WestHobart
BILLCLEAR
HAS ML C Jane How let tread the V AD Bill? Ms How lett has sent letters to constituents regarding her second reading speech. It says she is concerned the Bill does not require somebody to be terminally ill to access“euthanasia ”. Clause 5 of theEOLC Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2020 states: a disease, illness, injury, or medical condition, of the person that is advanced, incurable and irreversible and is expected to cause death of the person. Ms Howlett, you have failed your electorate dismally. DanielWoods
Bellerive
NOTINVAIN
IT is distressing to hear about those who are suffering a very painful end to their life, and we must show compassion for them and their loved ones. However, I do not believe the V AD Bill is the right answer. Pain, unfortunately, is part of life, and is usually followed by joy—a woman giving birth to her baby, or surgery to gain better health. What has this to do with those who are dying? I believe all human beings are created by a very loving god, and although God does not want us to suffer pain, He does permit it as part of our healing. When we are dying, the pain we suffer, even when it maybe somewhat alleviated by drugs, is a healing (purification) for our souls. My dear wife died of cancer in much pain, a very stressful time for her and our family and me, but we know her suffering was not in vain. So now I am sure she is at rest in the arms of our mostlovingGod.
CharlesWatts MountStuart
ONLY IF COMFORTABLE
It is interesting how opponents of voluntary assisted dying omit the word “voluntary” (“VAD not for doctors,” Letters, September 23). It is mischievous to claim doctors are going to be “conscripted”. Voluntary assisted dying is voluntary at every level, no doctor, no nurse, no pharmacist, not anybody, needs to take part if they don’t feel comfortable with it. Opponents also persists in calling it suicide, which it clearly is not, as has been pointed out in several letters.
As for stating that doctors who support VAD are out of step with the AM A, I would suggest that the AM A is out of step with the majority of doctors, and is not representative of the medical profession because of their small membership. The RACGP which represents 80 per cent of GPs supports patientcentred care and respects patient autonomy.
HildeNilsson Dying with Dignity T as