It allows those with a terminal illness to have pain relief, and the dose of analgesics is gradually increased as the patients pain level increases till he/she receives a dignified and painless death.

It is as Dr McMaster says living well as possible till the last possible moment. What Brian Winship rightly stresses, is the need for government legislation, to allow those who have lost quality of life to have medical assistance for a dignified and peaceful, death provided this choice has been documented in an advance health care directive whilst they were of sound mind. 

I am an 88 year old EDA veteran affairs pensioner I have recently arrived home from Prince of Wales hospital where I had open heart surgery.

I have several other failing parts and I am scared stiff that I may be confined indefinitely in a nursing home suffering from Alzheimer’s, dementia, incontinence and the like.

I have just had check up from the cardiologist and he said to me you know Bill you were born in 1925 you are past your use by date , your heart has suffered a lot of damage so you must accept the fact that your end is nigh.

When the end is nigh it is best to avoid hospital. The health system is geared to actively treating patients and prolonging life not to recognize the dying There are thousands of patients in hospitals and nursing homes with no quality of life lingering on indefinitely awaiting the blessing of death to release them from their despair.

When quality of life is lost and the sufferer is confined to care with Alzheimer’s, dementia, incontinence and the like palliative care is definitely not enough.

I find it very difficult to believe that anyone with an ounce of compassion can deny those who have lost quality of life be it degeneration or terminal illness the right to make a choice for a dignified and peaceful death provided this has been documented in an advance health care directive whilst of sound mind.

If ever I am unfortunate enough to be placed in the same situation I hope there is a sympathetic doctor around to end my life in a dignified and peaceful manner In light of the government’s unsympathetic attitude.

I have no option but to direct in my advance health care directive that if I should lose quality of life I do not want any medical treatment that will prolong my life and I do not want any further sustenance or fluid.

Although it will take me a few days to die this option is better than the alternative. It would give me great peace of mind if I could get medical assistance to die in a dignified manner if I should lose quality of life.

It is my firm opinion that enforced prolonged life when quality of life is lost is a fate far worse than death, I fear degeneration far more than I fear death, it is inhumane to leave those who have lost quality of life, whether it be degeneration or terminal illness that leaves them confined in a nursing home indefinitely suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s, incontinence and the like.

Bill Alcock, Port Macquarie