Conscientious objection

Medical ethics

Sir, – Your article “Call to allow conscientious objection on assisted dying” (News, February 13th) is not really that reassuring. The fact that we are even considering making it legal to “assist in taking the life of another person” is very worrying in itself.

Conscientious objection would be welcome if this ever becomes law, but if the approach to such objection in the case of abortion is anything to go by, it may not be worth much. Since the abortion legislation was enacted there has been a concerted effort to reduce any recourse to conscientious objection, with some who should know better describing it as “conscientious obstruction”, hardly the words of a lover of freedom or choice. – Yours, etc,

BRENDAN O’REGAN,

Arklow,

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Co Wicklow.