bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Reporter

We refer to the Observer column by Victor Fung Keung ('A person has a right to a dignified death', August 18). 
We agree totally that every person should have a right to a dignified death. 
However, a dignified death does not mean euthanasia. A dignified, peaceful and natural death could be achieved with appropriate care to relieve pain and suffering without resorting to killing the patient. 
We do not support the practice of euthanasia in Hong Kong. Here, euthanasia means 'the direct intentional killing of the patient as part of the medical care being offered'. 
The gravity of euthanasia far exceeds that of an individual choice. The far-reaching societal consequences of legalising euthanasia, including the impact on societal values, the negative implication on the chronically ill and vulnerable groups, and the possibility of going down  a slippery slope should be taken seriously.
Not supporting euthanasia does not mean that death is a taboo subject in Hong Kong. 
We organise workshops in the community on death and dying, and participants are very open in the discussion.
From our extensive experience in caring for the chronically ill and terminally ill, we understand that a request for euthanasia is more often a request for attention to, and relief from, pain and suffering. 
The unfortunate patient Choi Wan-fung ('Quadriplegic thinks about how to kill himself every day', August 16), mentioned in Mr Fung's article, should be no exception. We have visited the patient  and will assist  him to request appropriate care  from  the relevant health care providers. 
If appropriate care can be provided to Mr Choi, we believe that he will change his mind.
In Hong Kong, we would like to see the public and the government put emphasis on strengthening the existing services to help these needy patients, instead of promoting euthanasia.
Dr Tse Chun-yan, honorary adviser, Hong Kong Society of Palliative Medicine, Chan Faye Man-yu, programme development director, Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care



A dignified death is possible without legalising euthanasia