When my 79-year-old mother died peacefully in St Vincent's Hospice, we were thankful we were there with her. At home until just a few days before, she remained in control as much as anyone dying from cancer can. In the hospice, the morphine made the last few days bearable, and killed her. This is what ethicists call "double effect"; the intention is good but it has a foreseeable bad outcome.

Hospices help people die with dignity. My mother was lucky she was not in hospital — they are not designed to help people die but to keep them alive. (by Merrilyn Walton, Professor of medical education at the University of Sydney). Read article »...