Assisted Suicides

I would like to comment about Quill, the physician who prescribed barbiturates for a leukemia patient he knew planned to use them to end her life.

Because powerful subconscious fears are involved in issues involving death, such matters as euthanasia or suicide are intrinsically controversial and non-resolvable. Beyond religious, legal or moral considerations, a portion of the population is so terrified of pain and loss of control they will go to any lengths, including suicide, to escape suffering and indignity, while another portion is so terrified of death they will go to any lengths, including bankrupting family, and/or society, in a futile attempt to escape it.

I suspect our political opinions in the matter follow our fears. How, then, can we compromise?

ELAINE HAMILTON

Pasadena