Noel Conway’s plight is desperately moving, and he argues his case with great lucidity (Terminally ill man loses high court fight for help to end life, 6 October). By contrast we hear from Not Dead Yet UK that what is needed is “a proper discussion on ensuring proper palliative care is provided for the terminally ill”.
Yet again the argument is trotted out that with proper palliative care Mr Conway and patients like him will no longer want to have control over the time and circumstances of their death.
This is wrong on two counts.
First, as a retired GP with 33 years’ experience I saw that no matter how solicitous, expert and comprehensive palliative care was, it could not always ensure a “good death”. Second, even if Mr Conway could be guaranteed a good death, he would still be denied the control over it that he seeks.
Other countries seem perfectly able to legislate to provide this basic human right to have a say over one’s own death, while protecting the vulnerable in society, and it’s high time the UK woke up to this.
Dr Philip Cuttell
London
• Fay Schopen makes the point that “quality of life should underpin any and all medical research. For what is the point of simply surviving – not living – if your existence is a painful, feeble and miserable one?” (Cancer patients need more than survival, 6 October). This is the very point that those like Noel Conway, who know they are facing a traumatic, painful and long-drawn-out death, are trying to make; it is a truly nightmare situation to find oneself in. Yet judges continue steadfast in their resistance to offering such people a compassionate solution. Those of us trying to get the law changed do recognise the potential risks for abuse, but safeguards can be robust. With the best will and the best resources available – which are by no means universal – palliative care can only do so much; it is certainly not enough.
Dr Brigid Purcell
Norwich
• I am in my 90th year and frequently worry when I read of research that shows more and more people are living to 100. They suggest we are all going to say “hurrah”. I would like to hear from all these 100-year-olds. Is the extended life they have been given a “quality of life worth living”? The “quality of life” should indeed be the key to all medical research.
Joan Carter
Torrington, Devon
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters
