Approaching Death in Love and Faith
The AGE, 13 April 1995
from Reverend Dr Gordon G. Powell, AM.
Robert Richter (44) is just as bigoted as the worst religious fundamentalist when he writes re euthanasia "Theological objections ought not to be imposed by law".
Two years ago our eldest daughter Rosemary, 54, died of cancer. She was home with us for the last five months of her life. Because of her religious faith she enjoyed life and was full of fun to the last.
Never once did we hear her complain. Her children put on her tombstone "She gave us laughter and ne'er a dull moment".
We nursed her at home as long as we could. A week before the end when it was too much for us and not kind to her, we were grateful when Caritas Christi Hospice in Kew agreed to take her in. Members of the family kept vigil every day and evening. The hospice kept her free from pain and she died peacefully at 3am with her son and his wife nearby.
We have nothing but the most wonderful memories. Would we feel the same if we had signed her death warrant?
Both my wife and I have signed "Enduring Powers of Attorney" (available at newsagents) giving our son authority to decline any extraordinary treatment to keep us alive if we are too frail to speak for ourselves. "Caritas Christi" means "love of Christ" and that, together with faith in life after death, makes a big difference in the euthanasia debate.
Gordon Powell, Doncaster.