Life is sacred
WE URGE Tasmania to support both palliative care and the principles of love as enshrined in the sixth commandment - "Thou shalt not kill".
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We are created in God's image. All human life is sacred.
Our intrinsic worth is untouched by quality of life. Death isn't the end, (John 6:28-29).
Rev Chris Connors, The Evangelical Presbyterian Church Of Australia, Derby.
Language concern
I AM concerned in the voluntary assisted dying debate that certain commentators are using emotive language when the process of legislation review requires considerable personal reflection and a community spirit.
State-sanctioned murder it is not. Assisted suicide it is not. Callous disregard for the quality of life - it is not.
As a medical practitioner I am not directly involved in daily palliative care, but value the opportunity to lessen suffering by doing simple procedures to assist in the quality of life.
It is apparent that at times the quality of life is absent. It is rare given the excellent palliative care services I see in action.
There has to be a service that allows support in care that may include assisted dying so that comprehensive support is available.
I have questioned my faith in this matter and belief in love for life and its gifts are eternal.
Giving a person an option to end their life in the face of terrible disease must be allowed as an option in a modern and progressive liberal society.
Fraser Brown, Trevallyn.
Pain management
I AM writing in response to an article on voluntary assisted dying (The Examiner, July 17).
In this article Catholic Archbishop, Julian Porteous is quoted as saying "with the right medical care and emotional support, physical and mental pain can be managed and the person can experience a relatively peaceful natural death".
As far as I am concerned, that is not true.
There are many conditions in which pain is extreme and constant, and which doctors can do nothing to "manage".
Anyone who has experienced really significant pain for any length of time will know that in those extreme cases the option for an assisted death would be the purest mercy.
I would not deny that mercy to my pet dog, and I consider that no church person has the right to deny it to others, because of their particular religious views.
Anne Brelsford, Legana.
Envious position
I TOTALLY agree with Dr Wilson (The Examiner, July 18).
We have achieved what many envy, let's not undo all the good work that our premier has led us through.
Total elimination is what we should aim for. We have shown it is manageable and sustainable for the situation as it is now.
I for one as a business owner do not think my business would be able to survive another shutdown.
Anne Talbot, Launceston.
Cars and Trucks
THE Examiner (July 18) featured a full-page advert for the West Coast of Tasmania, showing a winding road through barren hills.
It also showed two large tandem trucks, travelling around a corner in the middle of the road.
Not a welcome sight any driver wants to come across while driving on a road with barely any shoulder to move their car over to safety.
The advert says "not for the faint-hearted".
No, it's not, when confronted by log, mining and other trucks travelling many roads of Tasmania in the middle of the road.
More apt wording would be, "test your driving skills against trucks and potholes".
Kathleen Green, West Launceston.
Double Standards
IN A COVID world, where we are constantly reminded not to touch each other, to keep social distance and to not travel far from home we are bombarded by "superhero footballers", some who have travelled from Victoria to Queensland.
These sports elite are seen hugging, tackling each other and definitely not practising social distancing.
I know many normal Australians that are unable to travel to be with sick or dying relatives.
They are not permitted to hug friends or visit people in nursing homes.
What is so special about football that allows this elite group of footballers to break all the rules and be filmed doing it, while other people through no fault of their own, are in some form of lockdown.
S Langerak, Hadspen.
Upper house elections
IT WAS a very timely and excellent article by independent MLC Tania Rattray (The Examiner, July 17) on how the Legislative Council goes about its business.
It is definitely essential reading for the electors of Rosevears and Huon.
Jim Dickenson, Riverside.
Council Amalgamation
I DON'T have a dog in the fight, so it matters not to me, but maybe Jack Bell and others like him can produce the modelling that proves to amalgamate councils will not impact service delivery and save money into the bargain.
My suspicion is that a rigorous assessment will prove that it can't be done without affecting service delivery, and that the inefficiencies inherent in a centralised system will cause a lot of the money saved to be lost in bureaucratic inefficiency.
Rod Force, Sandy Bay.
- LETTER GUIDELINES: Preference is given to letters submitted via examiner.com.au and of 150 words or less.