Ethics are the frameworks used by society to apply beliefs and values, and for the most part many of us have missed ethical viewpoints on different topics. People do not tend to be hard line in terms of their application of ethical values.

The front page article ("Not right", August 9) relates the trauma experienced by a local resident and his wife as she died from cancer. The practice of withholding food and water from a terminally ill patient is not unknown in medicine, but does not provide the patient with any less distress.

Social research has demonstrated repeatedly the majority of respondents are in favour of end-of-life choice. Research has also shown those with terminal illness who have access to VAD tend to live longer, secure in the knowledge they can make a choice when they need to. Sandy Buchman in 2019 published an essay in the British Medical Journal on "why I decided to provide assisted dying: it is truly patient-centred care". This is available via Google Scholar.

We are supposedly a secular country. I do not think religious leaders should be dictating to state parliamentarians, who will have their own ethical and moral viewpoints, and are there to represent their constituents.

I am a Christian and find myself unable to agree with the religious leaders who penned an open letter to the Weekend Advertiser (August 7), regarding the voluntary assisted dying bill, believing it to be immoral.

It pains me even thinking about the ins and outs of this subject. I can see the arguments on both sides. However, I have witnessed people in the latter stages of life suffer endless pain which to me is unconscionable. Palliative care is a wonderful thing and delivered with great care and concern by the staff involved. It isn't always enough to relieve endless suffering.

I have cancer and recognise the dilemmas involved if this suffering comes my way. I believe I have the right to decision making if others agree including my family. The religious leaders don't actually speak for me. I may receive flack related to my stand but so be it. I think it is also a principled stand.

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In response to the letter "Religious leaders out of sync" (August 12), perhaps facts not opinion should be debated. For example, doctors still conducted lobotomies in the 1960s yet we don't call them out of sync.

More paedophiles turn out to be neighbours or relatives, and we don't condone them as a group. Our health system in Wagga does lag significantly behind other places in Australia. In the 90s, Hobart had a well established stroke unit (at least 25 years before Wagga) and two palliative care units. I worked in one of these units, and no-one died in pain or suffered. In fact, the terminally ill died when they were ready i.e. after saying their goodbyes. The apparent majority should actively consider the facts and bigger picture, like us quiet minority (who probably outnumber the vocal "majority").

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