Upon reading Robert Goodrich’s angry outburst at the Herald (Feb. 8) and an individual’s right to peacefully end hopeless suffering, I wondered why he feels he should control everybody.
I have been with family members as they died painfully and without hope. My father begged to die. There are not always strong enough drugs, and he would stop breathing at night. It was terrifying for him.
I was very thankful that I was able to ease their suffering and give them love in their final days, but never did I wish I could prolong their agony or make their life decisions for them instead of allowing them the dignity to do so for themselves.
The whole act was about choice and individual rights. Those extend to the medical community as well. Doctors who feel they are killing someone as opposed to allowing a compassionate response to a definite and painful end should opt out. Nobody is making people end their own lives or aid them in doing so. Individual rights.
I do not want to be governed by Goodrich’s spiritual beliefs, as he was indicating we should be. While he called the ending of pain a secular act in a negative way, I call it a human response from the heart. Given the majority in favor, many religious voters agreed with this alternative.
The Herald is a community paper. As an overwhelming majority voted in favor of the act, it was appropriate, in my opinion, that it was reported that the hospitals here would not support that new option.
Individual rights of the patients and the doctors are supported equally. Let adults make decisions for themselves. That’s all the act is about.
Debby Malcolm
Durango
