BRIAN Iddon is urging the Government to back a Private Member's Bill, banning the withdrawal of food and fluid to terminally-ill patients.
This so-called anti-euthanasia Bill is opposed by the Government and the British Medical Association, and rightly so in my opinion. When I first heard about doctors withdrawing food and fluid to patients, I was horrified. But, having recently seen what actually happens in these cases, I must agree with the Government and the BMA, and disagree with Dr Iddon.
From what I have seen, these patients are allowed to eat and drink in the normal way. They are not denied food or drink. But if they do not want to eat or drink, they are not force fed intravenously, and are allowed to die.
There is no undue suffering caused by this. In fact, to keep patients who are in this condition alive, and force them to endure the pain and indignity of some of these terminal illnesses is inhuman, and I cannot understand anyone wanting to see this kind of suffering prolonged, when death is inevitable.
Of course, we are talking about terminally-ill or some comatose patients. I certainly would not condone this to free beds for other patients, as has been alleged to have happened in some hospitals where cases are under investigation.
Brian Derbyshire
Ribchester Grove
Bolton
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