Touched and troubled by Amy CMAJ 1997;156:1116 See response from: S. Cameron I was most impressed -- and touched -- by the article "Learning from Amy: a remarkable patient provokes anguished debate about rationality, autonomy and the right to die" (CMAJ 1997;156:229-31), by Dr. Stewart Cameron. Her experiences clearly show what occurs when autonomy is disregarded. These are exactly the kind of events that no one should have to put up with. Surely, in appropriate cases -- competent adults with a terminal illness, for example -- physicians should be allowed to provide assistance in dying to those who have repeatedly requested it as a means of sparing them the last few days or weeks of suffering. Such a physician-assisted death can well be the last act of love, mercy and compassion, not unlike the service veterinarians provide for suffering animals. Anything else would prolong dying, not living. Physicians should no longer look upon death as a failure or defeat, but as the relief it is in this kind of situation. Rudolph W. Dunn, MD South Surrey, BC Send a letter to the editor responding to this letter Envoyez une lettre à la rédaction au sujet de cette lettre | CMAJ April 15, 1997 (vol 156, no 8) / JAMC le 15 avril 1997 (vol 156, no 8) |