It [the ruling] provides a safe harbor for physicians who do prescribe a lethal medication under very carefully controlled circumstances. It was very problematic before because some physicians were afraid they couldn't practice good palliative care medicine. |
There is a small subset of people whose pain can't be managed in terms that are acceptable to them. Some pain can only be controlled by being unconscious, and that's not what everyone wants at the end. |
There s a lot that's being done to improve good palliative care. People are getting certified in pain management, there's more communication in communities and more awareness that most people don't have to die in pain. |