Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying

A chara, – “You matter because you are you. You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die.” These words of Cicely Saunders tell of a vision and challenge of what “assisted dying” can be: the radical alternative to the “assisted dying” envisaged by the Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying.

It is an integral part of “assisted living”. Whatever the outcome of the care referendum, we all depend on the care and assistance of others from the first moments of our lives. Depending on others takes nothing from our human dignity. Rather, it is an essential component of the dignity that is inherent to each and every human being. Nothing can deprive any person of that dignity. We may and do, however, fail to recognise that dignity in practice in many ways.

The Preamble to our Constitution puts the challenge: “seeking to promote the common good, with due observance of Prudence, Justice and Charity, so that the dignity and freedom of the individual may be assured”.

The Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights echoes this: “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”

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We abolished capital punishment as a penalty for crime. We lament and protest the deaths caused in wars and famine. We have a long and proud history and tradition of caring for the sick and dying.

Are we now going by a back door to reintroduce deliberate action intended to cause human death as a pretext for promoting human dignity, in place of ensuring the true care which is in our power to give? – Is mise,

PÁDRAIG McCARTHY,

Sandyford,

Dublin 16.

Sir, – Frank Browne and Prof Tony O’Brien (Letters, March 9th) correctly highlight the need to proceed cautiously in legislating for medical assistance in dying. Mr Browne mentions concerns around people with disabilities or elderly relatives being pressured into medical assistance in dying unjustly, in particular. I share those concerns and believe any legislation must protect these groups.

Thankfully, we have a growing body of research from the dozen or so countries where similar legislation already exists. The data actually shows the vast majority of patients accessing medical assistance in dying services have been college-educated, from higher socio-economic groups and without pre-existing disabilities. This may be for socio-cultural reasons but could also suggest inequities in accessing such services.

Concerns were also expressed around the “slippery slope” of legislation becoming progressively more liberal following introduction. I believe with the correct checks and balances, this can be prevented. Further medical assistance in dying iterations would be for future legislators to debate, however, and is not a reason to block its implementation in any form.

Terminally-ill Irish patients already access assisted-suicide, of course. We just criminalise them for it or force them to travel abroad, provided they have the physical capability and financial means to do so.

We have a wonderful, undervalued palliative care service in Ireland but this is not enough for some unfortunate patients with grievous life-limiting diseases, sadly.

As a physician, I would support my patients who are suffering from serious, irremediable illnesses, having the choice of a dignified death through medical assistance in dying.

They should be able to access this service on their own terms, in their own country and it should be delivered in a measured, safe and compassionate way. – Yours, etc,

Dr NIALL FEENEY,

Dublin 18.