Families, mortality, voluntary assisted dying and palliative care

Gemma Tognini’s touching account of her father’s final hours would resonate beautifully with countless families who have struggled in caring for a dying family member.

Tognini pays wonderful and eloquent tribute to palliative care givers when she says she is still unwrapping the gift she was given in carrying the burden of looking after her dear old helpless dad.

The Aussie community may be sharply divided over proposed state laws, which some call assisted dying and others call euthanasia, but palliative care will always be the most noble of all human acts.

Tognini speaks for so many when she says she feels that the laws will contribute to the cheapening of life but still respects the reasons for supporting these laws in individual cases.

John Bell, Heidelberg Heights, Vic

It is a shame the most important word – voluntary – was left out of the headline on Gemma Tognini’s article (“Assisted dying? Give me assisted living every time”, 20-21/11). It is not a cheapening of life when an individual (not their relatives or carers) makes a choice to end his or her life. If others were to make this decision it could be seen as such, but this can only be a decision made by the individual, not anyone else. We also need to remember that individuals can choose to refuse any or all treatments that will save/prolong their lives.

In the case of Tognini’s father, once he had dementia he would not have been able to make this choice. Tognini writes “never once did we think, time for the green needle old boy”. But it never would have been up to his family. And if he didn’t have dementia, but didn’t want to continue suffering untreatable pain that stopped him sleeping, as well as being bathed and toileted by others, then he should have had the right to choose.

Why should a person have to live with unrelenting pain or loss of dignity because, as Tognini asserts, “life should go full circle”? We’d all probably like to die peacefully in our sleep but for many the road leading inexorably to death can be very drawn out. No matter how good palliative care is some people just don’t want to live like that.

I cannot see why laws cannot be tight enough to protect the vulnerable. In countries overseas and in other states in Australia there has not been increases in requests to indicate weak, ill people are being targeted and assisted to death against their wishes.

Jennifer Travers, Normanhurst, NSW

One can empathise with Gemma Tognini’s position on euthanasia. Tognini reinforces the wish of many, that life should be prolonged, extending until factors of physical and/or mental decline lead to unassisted extinguishment. The counterposition of others is that when life becomes unbearable, assisted termination should be allowed.

Tognini writes as a daughter whose desire is to extend as far as possible the life of a parent. My reflection is that of a 75-year-old man who in no way wants to deteriorate to the point of eking out his mortality dependent on the ministrations of relations, whose lives become dislocated because of my priority care needs. Neither do I want to finish my days as someone largely immobile and possibly in a vegetative state in some nursing home. While still in good health and of sound mind, I should have the right to determine an exit strategy that allows me dignity in passing.

Henry Gray, Leanyer, NT

Teach us well

In his resolve to lift education standards from their depressing, ongoing decline through reforming the national curriculum, improving teacher training standards and lifting the quality of teaching, Alan Tudge has arguably the most important task of any politician in government. (“Class warfare: battle is joined to raise our living standards”, 20-21/11). Progressive ideology is failing students, parents and the nation. Unless balance is restored into the curriculum whereby a student obtains a good understanding of Australian history, is proud of our country and has the potential and the motivation to make a positive contribution to our liberal democracy upon graduation, then what hope do we have as a nation?

Ron Hobba, Camberwell, Vic

Cancel port lease

Regarding Peter Jennings’ article (“The lease of Port of Darwin to a Chinese Company must be cancelled”, 20-21/11) and in light of obvious war mongering by the Chinese, the lease should have already been cancelled by now. That this is still being pondered is a slight on everyone in government connected with the potential cancellation. It has been on the agenda for quite some time and the apparent lack of expediency by this government in relating to our defence is shameful.

While the government is now focused on the election, it must be able to chew gum and run at the same time.

Andrew Leahy, South Perth, WA