Doctors’ dilemma on prolonging life at all cost | Letters
Andy Thurston, Denis Jackson and Helen Keats respond to a letter by a doctor on assisted dying
I read Dr Chula Goonasekera’s letter (18 November) with interest. I too am a doctor and have had a very fulfilling career. I agree that doctors are trained to save lives, but I fear we were never so well trained to recognise when a life could not be saved, and the phrase “not to officiously strive to prolong life” is well worth bearing in mind. The law is a very blunt instrument. Having seen many very unsatisfactory deaths over the years, I am not at all sure we are doing the right things all the time at the moment.
My second point is purely semantic. I very much agree that the use of the word terminal is problematic; to me it means the end is nigh (the proposed law defines nigh as under six months), but the term is being increasingly used for incurable. Chris Hoy’s recent disclosure of his own situation led to headlines along the lines of “his terminal cancer diagnosis”, but the articles I read mostly said he had been given up to four years to live.
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By Guardian Staff
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Andy Thurston, Denis Jackson and Helen Keats respond to a letter by a doctor on assisted dying
I read Dr Chula Goonasekera’s letter (18 November) with interest. I too am a doctor and have had a very fulfilling career. I agree that doctors are trained to save lives, but I fear we were never so well trained to recognise when a life could not be saved, and the phrase “not to officiously strive to prolong life” is well worth bearing in mind. The law is a very blunt instrument. Having seen many very unsatisfactory deaths over the years, I am not at all sure we are doing the right things all the time at the moment.
My second point is purely semantic. I very much agree that the use of the word terminal is problematic; to me it means the end is nigh (the proposed law defines nigh as under six months), but the term is being increasingly used for incurable. Chris Hoy’s recent disclosure of his own situation led to headlines along the lines of “his terminal cancer diagnosis”, but the articles I read mostly said he had been given up to four years to live.
Continue reading...
By Guardian Staff
Doctors’ dilemma on prolonging life at all cost | Letters to Continue reading...
NHS Forums - For NHS Staff | Patient Forums
