A Dying Wish

This month, Dr Max Pemberton recalls an incident early on in his medical career that forced him to confront his views on assisted suicide

- Dr Max Pemberton

People want clear, concise responses from doctors. When you’re ill, there’s no room for waffle, no sitting on the fence. Doctors are supposed to give opinions, but if I’m honest, sometimes I’m not sure what my opinion is. It’s easy to think that a doctor’s job is to preserve life at all costs. But sometimes, things aren’t that simple. I remember as a newly graduated doctor, meeting Mrs Fraser who had supranuclear palsy (PSP). It’s an incurable, progressive neurological disorder. Death from PSP is cruel. As your nervous system slowly fails, so too does your body, while your awareness of what’s happening remains intact. What a pitiful situation.