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As a consultant in palliative medicine who works on a daily basis with very ill patients and their families, I feel compelled to express my concerns in relation to the damaging assertions made by Ian O’Doherty in his article of May 13 relating to abortion, euthanasia and hospices (‘After abortion, euthanasia will be our next burning social issue’).
Hospice care in Ireland has nothing to do with euthanasia.
Hospice care, or palliative care, aims to enable patients to live well with illness. Their courage to do so should be supported and not undermined. Doctors do not “pump up the morphine” irresponsibly on patients, as to do so is medically negligent and unethical. Palliative care has been shown by international studies to improve both quality of life and length of life in patients living with serious illness. It has been shown to significantly reduce the need for acute hospitalisation and reduce healthcare expenditure, which may be more favourable to a “failing healthcare system” than Mr O’Doherty’s case for euthanasia.
Morphine and other opioids are safe medicines when used, as with all medication, in a responsible and professional manner.
Multiple international studies have demonstrated opioids do not shorten life, even in high doses, and may also be associated with a survival benefit. Opioids form part of an array of medications used in hospice and palliative care to enable patients to live as well as possible, for as long as possible. I would feel that greatly enhancing the palliative care service in society is a far better and more compassionate option for our aging demographic than euthanasia.
It would serve all parties who engage in debate on these sensitive subjects to ensure their positions are based on fact and not fiction.
Each of the statements I have made is based on solid research and published international evidence, the references for which are available on request.