Rapid responses are electronic comments to the editor. They enable our users
to debate issues raised in articles published on bmj.com. A rapid response
is first posted online. If you need the URL (web address) of an individual
response, simply click on the response headline and copy the URL from the
browser window. A proportion of responses will, after editing, be published
online and in the print journal as letters, which are indexed in PubMed.
Rapid responses are not indexed in PubMed and they are not journal articles.
The BMJ reserves the right to remove responses which are being
wilfully misrepresented as published articles or when it is brought to our
attention that a response spreads misinformation.
From March 2022, the word limit for rapid responses will be 600 words not
including references and author details. We will no longer post responses
that exceed this limit.
The word limit for letters selected from posted responses remains 300 words.
The number of people living with chronic pain in UK is 28 million.1 Similar prevalence applies in USA. Pain is not the main or frequent reason people request euthanasia. Loss of dignity and autonomy are usual reasons. The areas of pain management and palliative care deal with the issue of "unbearable " or overwhelming pain, along with psychological and psychiatric and social and spiritual inputs. The bio- psycho-social-spiritual aspects of distress and pain, be it somatic or psychic or both, is what palliative and pastoral and pain teams do well. No one need die in severe pain. Ordinary people living ordinary lives also have pain (28 million) and their respite from it is also through these channels.
Re: Help to die campaign’s “bad death” video polarises doctors
The number of people living with chronic pain in UK is 28 million.1 Similar prevalence applies in USA. Pain is not the main or frequent reason people request euthanasia. Loss of dignity and autonomy are usual reasons. The areas of pain management and palliative care deal with the issue of "unbearable " or overwhelming pain, along with psychological and psychiatric and social and spiritual inputs. The bio- psycho-social-spiritual aspects of distress and pain, be it somatic or psychic or both, is what palliative and pastoral and pain teams do well. No one need die in severe pain. Ordinary people living ordinary lives also have pain (28 million) and their respite from it is also through these channels.
1. Fayaz A et al. Prevalence of chronic pain in UK: a systematic review and meta-analysis of population studies. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010364.
Competing interests: No competing interests