DOCTORS AND THE RIGHT TO KILL
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—Writing on this subject in your last issue Dr. Harry Roberts shows that he is fully conscious of the objective cruelty involved in the refusal of euthanasia to those who beg to be released from hopeless suffering, and he correctly states that juries have refused to convict a father who took his child's life for love's sake. Although he strongly suspects that doctors take upon themselves the responsibility of breaking the law by administering euthanasia, yet he is unwilling that euthanasia shall be legalized because of the risk of abuse and the danger of bribery ; and commits himself to the amazing exhortation : "when our sympathy outweighs our fear of the law, let us act upon it."
A distinguished surgeon recently declared in the Prae- Idiomr that it was wholly unjustifiable for a doctor ever to hasten the coming of death and added that our legislators and the public know the facts, the responsibility rests with them. To me it would appear unspeakably cowardly and cruel to thrust upon the doctor, the patient, or his closest relative responsibility of breaking the law in the solemn issue of life or death. A Bill has been drafted with ample safe- guards—the consent of the patient, the sanction of an inde- pendent tribunal, a time limit. Ministers of religion, doctors, many who have first-hand experience of this evil, are among the supporters of the Bill.—I am, Sir, &c.,
F. TALBOT. 109 Southwood Lane, Ilighgale, N.8.
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