Palliative care no answer for cancer or chronic sufferers

The article by oncologist Marion Harris (“Better palliative care is needed, not euthanasia”, 7/1), gives an unbalanced view of end-of-life care. This is surprising for a doctor who regularly sees those who are terminally ill. She points out that only a small number are referred under voluntary assisted dying legislation, but this is because the current legislation is so restrictive. For those who have cancer, pain relief and better palliative care might sometimes influence their quality of life and hence their decision-making.

My 50 years’ experience as a doctor is different, that for many with cancer or chronic conditions such as stroke or multiple sclerosis, palliative care can do nothing to improve their quality of life – their ability to speak, swallow, walk, even empty their bowels without assistance. No doctor or institution should be forced to assist in the process, but surveys in many countries, (including Australia and New Zealand), have found majority support for VAD and the legislation has not been abused.

Graham Pinn, Maroochydore, Qld

Dr Marion Harris is correct. Palliation is the way to proceed. Seemingly end-of-life illness is not always so. The human condition is complex. We do not know all the answers, nor do we understand all the questions we need to ask. The only certainty is that we will all die. And if we value life or lives, we should attempt to make it as positive as possible. We should use all our tools to make life as productive and happy as we can, we should work at the illnesses that are responsible for our death. Think of the huge change in care and in tools for heart disease, cancer and other complex disorders that plague our human lives. Consider how we can manage many. We cannot, yet, prolong life beyond the 100 years or so we are currently given. However, there is no reason not to expect that to occur in the years ahead. Assisted dying should not be a part of our future; rather, maintaining the effort into understanding the human condition and providing all the support and kindness that palliation can provide.

David Tiller, East Jindabyne, NSW

Slow lane

It seems the home of the petrol guzzler has well and truly heard the message (“Carmakers accelerate their charge into electric vehicles”, 7/1). US carmakers GMH and Ford have signalled the petrol car is being consigned to history and they are devoting their energies to the production of electric vehicles, including the revered pick-up truck. Unfortun­ately, seeing these vehicles in Australia will be unlikely while our government makes the sale of electric vehicles so unattractive. It appears that while the rest of the world is getting the message, it falls on deaf ears in Canberra.

Ross Hudson, Mount Martha, Vic

Lost cause

More beat-ups over the out-of-control demonstration at the Capitol on January 6 last year won’t arrest Joe Biden’s plummeting polls (“Biden to call out Trump on invasion”, 7/1). As Peter Baldwin reminded us, it was a storm in a teacup after the Black Lives Matters riots of the previous year (“Is America still the land of the free?”, 1-2/1).

John Morrissey, Hawthorn, Vic

Short supply

The disruption of supply chains due to the rapid unchecked spread of Covid-19 is predictable and tragic. The outcome of staff shortages in production facilities and transport is evidenced by the increasing number of empty shelves in supermarkets.

Nobody of any intelligence believed we could keep this virus in check forever, but to rely entirely on high vaccination rates without other measures such as mask wearing and social distancing was a recipe for disaster. Those who bemoaned the effects of restrictive measures, such as lockdowns, on economic activity by now should have realised the disease itself has the potential to cause a similar level of havoc.

Bill Pannell, Dalkeith, WA

The Adams appeal

Over the holiday period I have enjoyed the book reviews in The Australian. I ventured into several city bookstores and was pleased to see they were packed with browsers of all ages. I despair writers such as JK Rowling are being attacked for their views. Whatever happened to debate? Now the object seems to be to destroy any person completely whose views are contrary to our own. I have thought a lot about what I have read over the past six decades and reached the conclusion my favourite writer has been Phillip Adams. He has made me angry, exasperated, furious at times, laugh a lot, contemplative and educated me. I’ve often disagreed with his views but for decades I have looked forward to what he has had to say next. Adams and The Australian appear to be odd bedfellows but the paper has never been shy of allowing people with differing viewpoints room in its pages.

Chris Blanch, Spring Hill, Qld