I DO thank Dr Yvonne McMaster OAM for her contribution to the conversation on palliative care and the confusion that it is about dying.
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I most certainly did not mean to suggest to anyone lay or professional that "...this amounts to slow euthanasia".
I did not use these words and Dr McMaster is correct: nothing could be further from the truth.
The WHO definition of palliative care does not talk about dying but "...impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychological and spiritual".
Palliative care is for every patient young and old: it is about living and the treatment of pain and suffering but a lot of doctors and nurses are very confused.
There is probably no discipline in medicine so enshrouded in misconception, according to palliative care physician Dr Frank Brennan.
He is reported to have said recently to a 427 strong audience attending a Dying with Dignity forum in Port Macquarie that palliative care is the concerted effort to control pain and other symptoms, to support the patient and the family through this challenging and precious time and to allow death, when it comes, to be dignified and loving (Port Macquarie News, March 18,2015).
Palliative care is certainly not euthanasia albeit slow or otherwise.
I am not confused and do want everyone to understand the differences between euthanasia, palliative care and medically assisted dying.
My clear point is however, that many people are confused including doctors, nurses and other health professionals.
Brian Winship, Port Macquarie