Voluntary death can often trump an intolerable end to life

Illustration:Cathy Wilcox

Illustration:Cathy Wilcox

Well said,Ed Raftery (“I’m 95 today,I don’t need to be told how to die”,November 18)! I am 17 years younger than Ed,but old enough to think more frequently about my mortality,and I agree with him wholeheartedly. However,it is not old age that is the problem,but the state of declining bodies affecting the quality of life that needs to be considered. It would be hard to imaginethat when you are young. I hope I never choose voluntary assisted dying,but I want the right to make that choice if the time comes that my life is intolerable.Sandra Burke,North Sydney

Raftery identifies “the ever-sharpening perception of death” as a person ages. While I am not yet an “Ancient” in his terms,I have come to recognise this phenomenon for myself,as have my friends of decades. In acknowledging the limits of time,the inspiration is to live well,vibrantly and with love. It’s very empowering. As Raftery says,death itself holds no fear,but the means of dying may.

In my youth,I had a sense of “immortality”. The end too far off to perceive,let alone understand. Perhaps the youthfulness of some politicians contributes to withholding assisted dying in NSW,but I suspect there’s more to it than that. With 75-80 per cent of popular support for assisted dying,what cost can there be to political ambition? The cost is surely only to an individual in the terminal and unrelentingly painful stages of life and their family.Marie Del Monte,Ashfield

It seems it is never too late to evolve your thoughts and opinions. Raftery sounds like he has excelled in making good choices to get himself to his 95th birthday. His wisdom in this article is profound and thought-provoking.Cecily Chittick,Wamberal

Illustration:Matt Golding

Illustration:Matt Golding

A timely contribution from a wise elder. Firstly,belated birthday greetings Ed Raftery. I hope,should I reach your age,to be as articulate and clear-headed. A general lack of respect by the younger generation towards the elderly is a timeless complaint. However,it’s particularly galling when our highest elected state official is the worst offender. Learning to listen to the “voice of elders” is something a master’s degree or a survival stint in the bear pit can’t teach. Together with our loved ones,not the state and certainly not the church,individuals have the right to determine our end of life circumstances.Cleveland Rose,Dee Why

I’m 75 and I couldn’t agree more. The younger generations are assuming that we oldies need protection whether we want it or not.Michael Clarey,Pyrmont

It is not the NSW Premier’s youth that makes him opposed to voluntary assisted dying;it is his adherence to his religious belief. I think you will find that younger people are mostly open-minded and sympathetic to the needs of all classes and ages.Nola Tucker,Kiama

I agree with everything Raftery says except for his definition of the cohort of the Ancient as those and between 75 and 100. At 79,I’ve only just left middle age.Norm Neill,Darlinghurst

Heart in the write place? Put pen to newspaper

I needed a checklist to keep track of letter writers’ motivations (Letters,November 18). Diary? Check! Recording history? Check! Thrill seeking? Check! Ego trip? Check! Catharsis? Check! Old friends catch-up? Check! Politically incorrect letter not printed? Check! Check! Check! Fan mail? Check! (Once). Long-lost friends in contact when they found I was still above ground? Check!

The one thing I can do without is having my old mate,Rob Phillips of North Epping,take up my space in the Letters columns on days when my letter was clearly better than his. Frequent checks.Kevin Farrell,Beelbangera

My day always begins with reading the letters to theHerald. They are as varied as our wide land. They make me think,learn,laugh and sometimes change my mind. It would be wonderful to meet all of you as you seem to be friends already. I am besotted with the letter pages.Bea Hodgson,Gerringong

I admit I’m a serial letter writer. However,my original motive for writing my first few was to bring issues of importance that were being ignored. I also realised there was hardly any ethnic diversity within those having letters published so thought I would continue jotting down and sending my opinions.

Today,going into my fifth decade of writing to the editor,the letters I read every day are from a variety of people many with unpronounceable names,which reflects our multicultural nation. I like to think there is an art to letter writing but in my case I reckon I’ve just been lucky so will continue until it runs out.Con Vaitsas,Ashbury

I find that should I be lucky enough to have a letter get past the Cerberean letters editors they have worked harder on it than I did writing it.John Grinter,Katoomba

Sometimes,having written a letter to the editor,after setting down my thoughts and polishing the syntax and grammar,I simply delete it. I’ve clarified my opinion,vented my temper a little and – as an added bonus – I cannot be rejected as I haven’t submitted it.Coral Button,North Epping

When it comes to writing letters to the editor I think it’s quality,not quantity,that counts.Dorothy Filshie,Port Macquarie

Ah yes,George Manojiovic (Letters, November 17),but have you complained about not being published as often as I have? I go seriously whacko – doesn’t work,though.Rosemary O’Brien,Ashfield

I have found that being published in the Letters pages has renewed old friendships,started new ones,and even resulted in a visit from a film-making crew.Joy Cooksey,Harrington

If PM promises nil,he can’t fail

Only in Australia (“Morrison’s risky election strategy”,November 18). The Prime Minister:elect me and I will do nothing. The Deputy PM:we aren’t part of that government. PM:Don’t blame me for mandatory vaccines (or anything else);not my doing. Opposition Leader:not sure whether to be gleeful,or very afraid. Niki Savva brilliantly outlines the circus act we are all watching,but can’t quite believe. Smoke,mirrors,clowns,high wire? Yes. But where is the safety net?Geoff Nilon,Mascot

Savva doesn’t just ridicule Scott Morrison. She holds up a mirror,reflecting Morrison’s making himself look ridiculous. The PM’s hypocrisy is writ large in his own hand.Mark Porter,New Lambton

Morrison told his Liberal colleague Ann Sudmalis that he wasn’t ready to be Prime Minister. At least he got something right (“Morrison said ‘I don’t want’ PM job:ex-MP”,November 18).Allan Roberts,Dulwich Hill

If indeed Morrison did protest that he didn’t want to become prime minister three years ago why then did he not simply withdraw his nomination for the position.Annie Page,Elizabeth Bay

The proposition that Morrison did not want the top job is a common theme in comedy shows such asYes Minister where the storyline is explained roughly as follows:“but if my colleagues insist I am the best man for the job,I will be forced to take it.” Did Morrison learn his strategy from this iconic British series?Geoff Harding,Chatswood

The good (text)book

If religious schools are granted the right to discriminate in favour of teachers of their faith,non-believers should have the right to determine that none of their taxes are spent to support them (“Draft boosts the right to discriminate”,November 18).Judith Campbell,Drummoyne

Clean bowled

Columnist Oliver Brown calls for Joe Root to speak out against racism,and so he should (“Root must speak out before silence in racism looks like complicity”,smh.com.au,November 18). But when will the England team,or indeed Cricket Australia,speak out against the Barmy Army and their racist chants? Or their sledging of individual players,designed specifically to humiliate and to put them off their game?

Somehow,this nasty bunch of English hecklers is seen as adding to the ambience and their unpleasant chants as good clean fun. Their racism,off-putting jeers and downright sledging would never be allowed in other sports,such as tennis,basketball or athletics,so why is cricket so different? How have we allowed,even encouraged,the England squad to bring their own racist hecklers on tour? It would be nice to see some consistency in the attitudes of cricket administrators towards the behaviour of this travelling “jeer squad” as well as towards the cricketers themselves.Merona Martin,Meroo Meadow

Top of housing agenda

Great work,Minister Rob Stokes,in helping to manage climate change (“Net zero rules set for big developments,dark roofs banned”,November 18) Next on your list:coal mines.Alison Orme,Marrickville

All rooftops regardless of the nature of the building should be installing solar panels to make use of the sun. It is encouraging to hear a politician in NSW making moves in the right direction.Robyn Lewis,Raglan

Unhealthy culture

Professor Simon Willcock cites the virtue signalling redolent in hospital mission statements and the myth of patient focus in doctor training and hospital-care delivery models (Letters,November 18). I say “amen”.

I am inundated with angry,frightened patients and their families who fear their fates in the public hospital system. When anger doesn’t work,they get help,namely an independent patient advocate like me. In order to get the care and management back on track,I frequently have to protect the staff (usually doctors) from the pent-up vitriol and turn it into a positive force. When I trained as an RN in the ’70s,it wasn’t like this.Dorothy Kamaker,Sydney

Professor Willcock,the hospital can indeed be a scary place for both patients and relatives – I know,I worked in the system for 42 years – and they have the right to question and raise complaints,but surely it doesn’t give anyone the right to abuse staff either verbally or physically. What sort of a society have we become if we excuse and normalise this behaviour and place the blame back on those on the receiving end of it?Vivienne Freeman,Warrawee

Professor Willcock’s response to junior doctors’ pain is to give them more stick by accusing them of having no sense of responsibility for their patients. What an extraordinary load of bunkum. It is concern for their patients that makes the job so hard. Young doctors stay late every shift to try to do the job well,worry themselves sick over their decisions,and torture themselves over any misstep.

Patients and relatives should know:there is no-one in the system who cares more what happens to you than the young doctors filled with idealism and hope for a career saving and supporting you.Jennifer Briggs,Kilaben Bay

Say it isn’t so

The NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet keeps a count of election promises – those honoured and those ignored (“Broken pledges hold promise for ALP”,November 18). I wonder if the Prime Minister’s Department does the same. Would make interesting reading.Hilton Koppe,Lennox Head

Beauty is ageless

What’s wrong with celebrating the beauty of women,at any age? It is so much more than just youthful,skin deep,facial structures (“Pageant For Holocaust survivors”,November 18) The fact that they survived one of the darkest chapters in human existence is cause enough to celebrate.Pasquale Vartuli,Wahroonga

Smiling Alsation

I smiled when I read Margaret Grove’s letter about their Jack Russell terrier straining at the leash to attack a German shepherd (Letters,November 18). Our tiny Australian silky terrier,Molly,actually did this some years ago,attacking the neighbour’s German shepherd. Needless to say,she came off the worse for wear,with a fractured pelvis and dislocated hip,after a good shaking. Food for thought.Ruth Barwick,Hornsby

I,too,had a small dog,always feisty toward Alsatians. One memorable day,my dog,full of aggression,marched up to an Alsatian sitting in his driveway. The result? My dog suffered the indignity of being flipped onto his back with one swipe of a paw. I was certain the Alsatian was smiling.Jill Jurd,Lane Cove

Peter Dutton is more like a neutered pit bull terrier on a long leash than a Jack Russell.George Zivkovic,Northmead

The digital view

Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday onsmh.com.au
Another COVID-19 booster shot will likely be needed,experts say
Fromjohn:″⁣The research was based on numbers at a point in time in a specific cohort. Since then we’ve seen a number of things happen including the emergence ofmore contagious variants such as delta. The world is a moving target and anchoring to a study from over a year ago will not necessarily reflect reality as the variables change. One thing that hasn’t changed is that it still substantially improves the odds of a better outcome should you be exposed to the virus.″⁣

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