Palliative drugs are not for shortening life

Editor—Clare Dyer's report about Annie Lindsell, who has motor neurone disease, suggests that she may still be trying to ensure that her life can be ended at her request when she feels that she cannot face any further distress.1 She wants her general practitioner to be lawfully able to give drugs to relieve her distress in the terminal stages of the illness, even if this could shorten her life.

Although patients with motor neurone disease are understandably worried about their future and the possibility of …