Assisted Suicide

Re “A Legal Way Out” (by Barry Siegel, Nov. 14), on assisted suicide in Oregon: Your article opened my eyes to the legal and emotional battles of assisted suicide. As a woman who lost her brother to AIDS, I am a full supporter of allowing people to choose how to die. However, it is clear from the article that many, many steps (of which I was not aware) need to be taken to allow this process to work in a society that condemns it, even though it has been determined legal in some jurisdictions.

In retrospect, had the option been available and had my brother chosen to ask for it, I don’t know if I would have had the strength of the family profiled in your story to get what was “legally” available. However, it would have been wonderful to have had a choice, at least. Was it or is it easier to let life (or death) take its course? Who knows, but at least people deserve an option. My admiration and respect go out to the family in the article and Compassion in Dying. I agree with Joan--the hard part is learning to live without your loved one.

JANET M. OCHOA

Granada Hills

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This report was very sensitive and incisive on an issue that needs to be debated by our society. The ambivalence toward the law of Oregon, particularly among the professionals involved, is quite eloquent evidence that our citizenry is in dire need of educational efforts such as this. That there must be freedom of choice is beyond debate; what is most needed is the understanding and tolerance among us for those of differing viewpoints.

RICHARD N. McKIRAHAN

San Diego