eLetters

23 e-Letters

published between 2020 and 2023

  • Claims and Facts about Oregon's Death with Dignity Act at 25 years

    This article provides a simplistic perspective, relying heavily on correlation, not causation, to make unproven claims about Oregon’s medical aid-in-dying law and erroneously comparing it to euthanasia laws outside the United States.

    Claim: “...there was an increase in patients feeling a burden and describing financial concerns as reasons for choosing an assisted death.” (p. 1) “Detailed studies are needed to explain the marked change in medical funding for PAS patients in Oregon.” (p. 5)

    Facts: While the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reports insurance status, it doesn’t report whether patients used their insurance for medical aid in dying. Only 5.1% of people in Oregon who qualified for medical aid in dying since 1998 noted the financial burden among their reasons for requesting it.

    Claim: "The 2022 report states that the combinations [of medications] have resulted in longer times from ingestion to death…" (p. 3)

    Facts: The median time has risen, but it is still typically less than an hour from ingestion to death. Very few patients experience a significant delay between ingestion and death. Otherwise, there would be a higher median time.

    Claim: “Unfortunately the destruction of OHA records after 1 year makes retrospective analysis impossible.” (p. 4).

    Facts: OHA’s public explanation: “The State KC does collect the names of patients in order to cross-check death certificates. However, the law guarantees the confidential...

    Show More
  • Further response to ‘Assisted suicide and capital punishment
    Dr Regnard claims that I 'find comfort in the belief that any sceptic or critic of assisted dying must be driven by religious fanaticism' That is untrue. Last year, I sent him my critique of two prominent unbelieving opponents of AD, Douglas Murray and Kevin Yuill. [1] Far from being 'desperate to claim that assisted dying is safe' I have argued repeatedly (including emails to Dr Regnard) that occasional difficulties in swallowing or absorbing the full oral dose of prescribed AD medication is a strong argument for direct third-party administration, as preferred by over 99% of Canadian AD patients who have a choice. 

     

    Although Dr Doré cites a paper as proof that the quality of death in AD is not superior to that in patients requesting but not receiving AD,[2] it actually shows the opposite. "Family members of those choosing [AD] reported greater symptom control, particularly in regard to control over surroundings, better functioning, better energy, and better control of bowel and bladder."  He claims that 'in no way is religion mentioned' and 'in no form do I have a paid role, nor any role within any spiritual or religious organisation' but does not question the evidence that he is very religious. This is consistent with the increasing tendency of religious opponents of AD to disguise the doctrinal basis of their opposition[3] and deliberat...
    Show More
  • Assisted suicide and faith: a mistaken analogy

    In responding to a rational discussion by Doré,(1) Brewer’s reply was not surprising.(2) He finds comfort in the belief that any sceptic or critic of assisted dying must be driven by religious fanaticism. That prejudice might excuse his mention of the Spanish Inquisition and quoting the bible; but it does not excuse personal criticism of a colleague’s rational arguments on the basis of unsubstantiated claims of religious intransigence.

    As an agnostic, I may share Brewer’s scepticism of religion. Unlike Brewer, I am aware of many agnostics, atheists and humanists who have deep concerns around assisted dying, and many others with religious beliefs whose concerns are driven by strong secular arguments. Brewer is desperate to claim that assisted dying is safe despite the increasing evidence of abuse and lack of monitoring.(3) Fanaticism does not need religion to be damaging.

    1) Doré M. Assisted suicide and capital punishment: a mirror image? BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care. 2023 Jun 27: https://spcare.bmj.com/content/early/2023/06/26/spcare-2023-004380
    2) Brewer C. Assisted suicide and capital punishment: a mistaken analogy. BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care. 2023 Jul 14: https://spcare.bmj.com/content/early/2023/06/26/spcare-2023-004380.respo...
    3) Coelho R, Maher J, Gain...

    Show More
  • Assisted suicide and capital punishment: a mirror image?

    Thank you for reading the paper. I do not have a competing interest as Brewer accuses (1), in no form do I have a paid role, nor any role within any spiritual or religious organisation.

    To state it clearly, in no way is religion mentioned, illuded to, nor is it a formulation of any of the arguments in this paper, my expertise is simply that of a palliative care physician.

    I will explain a misconception he has outlined. My comparison to capital punishment is based upon the legal standard we have set in the UK, ‘that no-one incorrect should be killed’.

    Given incorrect diagnosis, incorrect prognosis and especially autonomy being fluctuant, relational and social it is inevitable some will be killed incorrectly. The individual autonomy difference between capital punishment and assisted suicide doesn’t mute the point, rather it outlines even greater uncertainty resulting in incorrect deaths. Choosing assisted suicide based upon an incorrect diagnosis for example is not a valid choice. Choosing assisted suicide based upon social circumstances is simply facilitating suicide. Choosing assisted suicide based upon a unlikely future and fear of it, is not a rationally made choice. Brewer states he is a rationalist, indeed an ex-psychiatrist, is it thus not prudent to realise and explore the reason behind a choice rather than blindly accept the choice? Indeed, is this not the basis of suicide prevention?

    Furthermore, suffering does not appear to diminish...

    Show More
  • Assisted suicide and capital punishment: a mistaken analogy.

    The ‘no competing interest’ declaration in Doré’s paper[1] opposing assisted dying/assisted suicide (ADS) is highly misleading. In September 2019, he was among 911 Christian signatories to an open letter opposing abortion services in Northern Ireland.[2] It includes: ‘As Christians we believe that the 6th Commandment is binding upon all of humanity. “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13)’, a belief evidently rejected by the Spanish Inquisition when condemning its last heretic in 1826. His objections to ADS may therefore be equally religion-based.

    Most opposition to ADS has doctrinal origins but surveys repeatedly show that believers, including former Archbishop John Carey, are almost as supportive of ADS as the general UK population. Doré exemplifies recent trends among religious opponents to conceal the beliefs that typically inform their opposition, because they realise Bible-based arguments carry decreasing weight IN AN increasingly secular Britain. Very religious physicians are over-represented in UK palliative care,[3] forcing those who support ADS to do so anonymously lest they damage their careers.[4]

    Comparing capital punishment, an involuntary and generally unwanted procedure, with desired, voluntary and usually long-considered ADS is a major category error. Capital punishment ended in European countries not primarily because of rare mistaken convictions but because its Biblical ‘eye for an eye’ principle was increasingly challenged. Hanging was...

    Show More
  • Doubts about some quantitative information

    With much interest I have read this article. Unfortunately I noticed various inconsistencies within 1) the tables as well as in 2) the textual description about quantitative results:

    1) Tables

    Table 3 Patient clinical characteristics
    a. Main diagnosis SAH/Other: 12(5) should read 12(4), assuming 12 is correct;
    b. Main diagnosis HU/Other: 14(6) should read 14(5), assuming 14 is correct;
    c. Disease modifying treatment in the 3 months prior to admission*: The numbers add up to exactly the given N. Why *?
    d. Disease modifying treatment in the 3 months prior to admission*: Yes. Currently 85(31), 67(24) and 92(34). Assuming absolute figures are correct, the percentages should read: (32), (25) and (35) respectively;
    e. Mental status (oriented) on admission: Unknown for SAH and HU. Currently 21(7) and 41(15). Assuming absolute figures are correct, the percentages should read (8) and (16) respectively.

    Table 4 Reported multidimensional care needs on admission
    It seems that the figures stated under 'Domain of care needs noted on admission' do not coincide with the figures under 'No of dimensions of care needs by patient'. Two examples. There are 267 in the need of Physical care within VDH. However when adding up the Physical dimensions below, the total is 269 (76+65+34+19+42+15+6+12). Second example: There are 48 in need of Spiritual care within HU. However when adding up the Spiritual dimensions below, th...

    Show More
  • Assisted dying compatibility with palliative care is an illusion

    Cohen and Chambaere imply that palliative care (PC) and ‘assisted dying’ (AD) will develop a loving relationship, albeit with compulsory marriage guidance.(1)

    Claiming existing ‘integrated and synergistic’ links contradicts the fact that growth in PC services has stalled in Belgium and the Netherlands since 2012.(2) This assumes expert PC teams are accessible. In the UK, an estimated 118,000 people in 2017 could not access expert PC,(3) and only 15% of Canadians have access to publicly funded PC.(4) Even when PC is involved, the median duration of specialist PC involvement is 19 days,(5) barely enough time to resolve physical symptoms, let alone a wish to die.(6) Claiming PC or hospice involvement in AD patients is meaningless without knowing the expertise and length of involvement.

    Suggesting that because some PC teams are involved in AD the rest must follow, ignores the depth of disquiet. Even 15 years after Oregon’s AD legislation, two thirds of hospices were refusing to participate.(7) The authors point to a paper which surveyed staff from two Canadian hospices.(8) This exposed profound concerns amongst staff about participation in AD but ignored the insidious impact of government mandates forcing hospice involvement, while glossing over reports of clinical complications and concerns about patients’ capacity and the steadfastness of their decision. There is no mention that Canadian AD legislation has removed many safeguards such as the 10-day reflectio...

    Show More
  • Could topical ophthalmic beta-blockers be given per orum for this indication?

    As we use atropine and pilocarpine eye drops orally, could betaxolol a beta-1 selective beta-blocker be used to reduce stringy saliva? Especially when swallowing is impaired?

  • ‘Future Care Planning’ - perhaps the way forward?

    I approve of the direction-of-travel of the approach in Wales, which it seems to me is more reflective and encompassing of the complexity of end-of-life than is the now widely-adopted ‘ReSPECT’ in England. The term Future Care Planning as used in Wales, explicitly includes planning made when a patient lacks capacity – for example, if the planning takes place when a patient is ‘comatose’ or ‘deeply unconscious’. Whereas the ReSPECT process, generates a main ReSPECT form (ref 1) which tells readers in its section 1 ‘The ReSPECT process starts with conversations between a person and a healthcare professional’. So, presumably any planning ahead which is only embarked on after a patient has already become unable to engage in conversation, should not be captured by either the ReSPECT process or by the ReSPECT form.

    I believe that many NHS Trusts in England, in adopting ReSPECT have moved too far in the direction of trying to create a form which seeks to be ‘all things to all readers’ - whereas in Wales, as we can read in the paper by Taubert and Bounds ‘The approach seeks to cater for the disparate need of the Welsh population; there is not merely one format for multiple scenarios, but a choice of approaches, communication strategies and documents to suit bespoke needs.’.

    I have only two issues with the paper. One is this sentence, which is in fact from the European Association for Palliative Care definition of ACP: ‘It encourages individuals to identify a person...

    Show More
  • Another component to health economics in end of life care in the UK

    Diernberger and colleagues give an effective review of the importance of considering how health economics apply to end of life care. I hope their message is heard clearly.
    In the UK there is another dynamic that requires exploration. The majority of palliative care services rely on local charities. It would follow that wealthier areas have greater charitable donations and therefore can offer better services.
    So alongside our evaluation of the health economics at the end of life we also need to reflect on the risk that the inverse care law applies. Do people dying in wealthier areas receive better services than those living in more deprived areas because those charities have greater support?
    It would seem an important research question for us to answer

Pages