Doctors and the dying

Re “Dying for a way out,” Column One, May 7

Doctors contend the better response is to offer patients adequate pain medication and reassurance. Reassurance about what? That the patient will be in pain and die pretty soon?

Proponents of “death with dignity” are motivated by the opportunity to make more money from people before they die. Doctors and insurance companies feed off each other’s greed.

Putting our pets to sleep is the “humane” thing to do. Allowing terminally ill patients to suffer in pain is the “conscience-able” thing to do.

Terry Brannon

Los Angeles

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If professor William L. Toffler, an opponent of assisted-suicide statutes, were required to be at Stephen Wallace’s bedside to witness the horrific pain and suffering, his conscience would surely dictate that he change his mind and support a person’s right to die.

Roy T. Kobayashi

Fullerton

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We wouldn’t treat a dog the way Wallace was treated. Not only did his doctor fail to follow the state of Washington’s new law allowing physicians to help hasten the death of terminal patients, but he failed to provide his patient adequate medical care by refusing to give him sufficient painkillers in a timely manner and not referring him to in-home hospice treatment.

Wallace’s death was unnecessarily prolonged and excruciating.

There appears to be a big gap in the education of rural doctors in Washington.

Hospice doctors and nurses are committed to helping terminal patients and their families through the last days and hours with dignity and compassion, providing sufficient medication for comfort and counseling for the families.

Wallace’s doctor should have known that.

Judith Fenton

Costa Mesa

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Perhaps doctors need a lesson from veterinarians. Humans can take the life of an animal but not their own? Interesting.

Not allowing a person to end their own pain brings a slow, painful death.

Doctors need to remember: It’s not about them.

Carmen D. Cisneros

North Hollywood