Letter to The Times on Euthanasia and Palliative Care, sent 29 September 2005

From Dr John R. Ling

Sir, Why is it that advocates of euthanasia, such as Camilla Cavendish (comment, September 29), Dr Michael Irwin and Diane Pretty, consistently ignore the well-established benefits of palliative care and the hospice movement? Is it because such compassionate support and proven comfort do not fit their mindsets, careers, or political objectives?
    At a time when Parliament is about to debate euthanasia, telling just half the truth is both disingenuous and misleading.

JOHN R. LING
(Author, The Edge of Life – Dying, Death and Euthanasia, Day One, 2002)
Aberystwyth
jrl@aber.ac.uk