In response to Fisken

摘要

My statements about what can be achieved by palliative care are hardly irrelevant as it is important to establish the benchmark for what is possible. The appalling care highlighted by the author in the same issue, to whom Fisken refers, although tragically all too common is nonetheless sub-optimal.1 Palliative care is certainly not a panacea for all end-of-life ills, but whatever the limitations there is always something that can be done to bring a measure of relief. There will always remain some people who would like the option of assisted dying. However, at what cost to others do we elevate their autonomy above other concerns? Fisken's faith in our legislators is admirable, but I'm afraid that I have rather less faith in human nature. He does his cause little favour by making the comparison with the 1967 Abortion Act. I doubt those who framed that legislation would have had any idea that the result would be abortion on demand, with only a tiny fraction of these being for foetal abnormality. Furthermore, while some may argue that there is scope for debate over viability of life or personhood of an embryo, there is absolutely no doubt that assisted dying involves ending a life.