Andy Cox writes: No God-bothering crusaders akin to John Howard and Tony Abbott and their mates are going to inform me after I can die, help an individual who needs an abortion or who I sleep with (“John Howard’s legacy thwarts progress on voluntary assisted dying”). It’s at all times intrigued me how the non secular proper likes to spend their time telling the remainder of us what we will and can’t do with our lives. I simply want they’d crawl again beneath their rock.
Dr Linda Swan writes: Searching for approval for voluntary assisted dying is a posh and cautious course of that requires a number of conversations and visits to well being professionals. These ideally all happen in particular person and that’s the most well-liked mannequin of care. Nonetheless, some persons are both too sick, too fragile or too distant to have all the things carried out by way of in-person consultations. A ban on telehealth signifies that dying people who find themselves too ailing or who reside outdoors our main cities are denied their authorized end-of-life selection.
It’s sufferers, in session with their healthcare crew, who ought to make selections about what care is clinically applicable — not politicians.
(Notice: Swan is CEO of Go Mild Australia)
Bernard Cannon writes: “God so liked the world that he gave his solely begotten son.” Was that son all-knowing? If that’s the case, he would have recognized what his father needed and went together with it. So why don’t we regard the crucifixion of Christ as an act of voluntary assisted dying?
Francis Coombe writes: The Federal Court docket ruling of November 30 deciphering voluntary assisted dying as suicide is ridiculous, savage and damaging.
Each Australian state now has legal guidelines permitting VAD. These legal guidelines are restricted to standards of a terminal sickness — suicide has no such limitation. VAD requires a medical pathway with two docs assessing for decision-making capability — suicide has no medical pathway and is usually impulsive, with psychological sickness usually concerned.
VAD is a peaceable, dependable demise the place the particular person will be supported by family members — suicide is mostly carried out alone by necessity as aiding a suicide is towards the regulation. It’s usually botched and violent. VAD permits good bereavement outcomes — suicide begets horrible bereavement outcomes. Our neighborhood overwhelmingly needs VAD to be obtainable — our neighborhood overwhelmingly needs to forestall suicide.
Below the Federal Court docket ruling, all folks aiding within the VAD course of, docs, pharmacists, nurses, care navigators, hospital VAD liaisons, witnesses to the requests and administrative workers might be accused of aiding suicide — and beneath legal guidelines that enable them to take action! Legal professional-Basic Mark Dreyfus should urgently amend the Commonwealth Prison Code to take away the confusion and disruption within the administration of VAD acts in each state.
(Notice: Coombe is president of Voluntary Assisted Dying South Australia.)
Masked crusaders
Dr Dominic Meagher writes: Re “Does it make sense to nonetheless fear about lengthy COVID?”: I put on an N95 respirator every time I’m indoors (besides at residence). At residence I’ve two air filters working 24/7 and now not have visitors — I meet folks on the native park, café or beer backyard. I don’t go to indoor occasions except the organisers/venue clarify the air flow or filtration obtainable.
Why? As a result of as Jason Murphy noticed in his article, lengthy COVID is protecting many individuals out of labor. As a analysis economist, if I can’t focus I can’t work. The chance of dementia is about 50% increased for every an infection. Stroke or coronary heart assault is about 40% extra possible. The chance of diabetes is about 20% increased.
These figures are troublesome to be exact with as a result of the virus retains altering. However what we will see is that NSW lecturers, police, retail and hospitality staff have been claiming staff’ compensation at a couple of 25% increased price since Omicron, relative to pre-COVID, although WorkSafe NSW does nothing to intervene.
We are able to see that the variety of staff who may now not work final yr is about equal to a traditional yr of immigration. The surplus workforce loss resulting from illness was greater than 1% of the entire workforce final yr. We are able to see that the demise price should you catch COVID at an Australian hospital as a affected person is 10%, however hospitals don’t require airborne an infection prevention and management measures.
Within the UK, greater than 1.5% of the workforce is unable to work resulting from COVID. You may name {that a} 1.5% lack of GDP resulting from misplaced earnings. That’s nearly equal to the whole defence funds. We’re not doing any higher than the UK — we’re simply six months behind.
Sure, COVID is the largest preventable drain on incomes and probably the most preventable supply of inflation. In a cost-of-living disaster, an infection prevention and management continues to be the lowest-hanging fruit for presidency motion to assist folks get by, however the authorities refuses to acknowledge it.
(Notice: Meagher is chief economist at John Curtin Analysis Centre.)
Gemma Donaldson writes: I nonetheless put on a masks in most circumstances. A yr in the past I used to be in energetic therapy for most cancers and located having to do duties like choosing up treatment from the chemist and attending pathology for blood exams fairly terrifying as an immunocompromised particular person surrounded by folks willingly going about unmasked.
The principle cause I nonetheless put on a masks is solidarity with immunocompromised folks, to make them safer in public — but in addition to not really feel alone. I additionally masks on public transport and when purchasing. Just lately we flew from Auckland to Perth and I masked besides throughout meals. My husband picked up COVID on the flight and I didn’t. That’s sufficient proof for me.
Pippa Yeoman writes: I used to be wholesome and triple-vaccinated after I was first contaminated in March 2022. Since then I’ve been recognized with a pulmonary embolism, sleep apnoea, adrenal hypersecretion, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), platelet hyperactivation and micro clots, and cerebral hypoperfusion. I didn’t work in any respect for six months final yr and I’m nonetheless unable to work greater than 25 hours per week — 50 was regular for me pre-COVID. So it’s unsurprising that I nonetheless put on a masks.
I want others understood the dangers they take with their and others’ well being when selecting to not masks.
Stephanie Allen writes: I’ve been sporting an N95 with eyewear safety or a 6200 half-mask respirator with a face protect for the reason that center of 2020. I even put on a fisherman’s hat with the 6200 in high-risk settings when the necessity arises.
Throughout 2020 I sat within the petri dish known as a practice and mentioned to myself: “I will likely be masking endlessly.” I’ve not had COVID-19 and refuse to simply lie down and get it. With extra proof that COVID causes injury not solely to the mind however to different organs, I’m ready it out for so long as potential.
Watch society develop into a well being burden the place solely the good survive.
Claire H. Wheeler writes: My household nonetheless masks up once we go indoors with different folks. It takes braveness to put on a masks as a result of it has develop into an emblem of restriction slightly than certainly one of safety. If the reverse had been the narrative, society could be a greater place. However we appear decided to proceed down the trail of denial amid instances of continual illness and incapacity. I way back gave up on anticipating something to alter and have resigned myself to being a endlessly masks wearer, realizing now what I learn about this virus and the ailments it causes.
I’m completely wholesome and in my 40s, aside from a few co-morbidities that don’t function on the record of high-risk circumstances. However vulnerability just isn’t fastened and your well being can shift within the blink of an eye fixed. That’s why I nonetheless masks. The opposite cause I masks is as a result of I do know COVID hangs within the air, you’ll by no means know the place it’s, who’s contaminated and who just isn’t.
No-one ever believes it can occur to them however the odds of lengthy COVID are someplace round one in 10 folks. That’s a fairly excessive danger. And that’s earlier than we all know extra in regards to the different doubtlessly devastating results on the mind, coronary heart and different organs.
Rebecca Curran writes: I nonetheless put on a masks — minimal KF94 in lower-risk conditions, in any other case N95/P2 on public transport, at indoor public venues (together with outlets, galleries, museums and so forth) and open air if distancing isn’t potential. I do business from home by myself, so I don’t masks there. My 12-year-old additionally masks indoors at college.
I’m a self-employed, sole guardian. I’m additionally a middle-aged lady. Research point out my cohort is at elevated danger of creating lengthy COVID. Buying a continual sickness or incapacity that impacts my potential to work would have catastrophic penalties for me and my baby. If I’m unable to work who can pay for our housing, meals, clothes and well being bills?
I masks as a result of there’s sturdy proof that sporting a superb high quality, well-fitting masks reduces transmission. We nonetheless don’t know sufficient in regards to the long-term implications of being contaminated with COVID, particularly a number of instances, however what we do know is regarding and worthy of taking precautions.
I additionally put on a masks out of respect for people who find themselves susceptible to severe sickness, or who can’t masks (e.g. very younger kids, some folks with incapacity and a few older folks). The one factor it prices me is cash, and I acknowledge my privilege in having the ability to afford to purchase good-quality masks. I care what others consider me and the way they deal with me, however not sufficient to cease masking.
Ishita Akhter writes: It’s unlucky that with a present rise in instances and deaths in Australia, there seems to be not plenty of consciousness among the many plenty relating to COVID.
My husband and I don KN95 or above respirators every time we’re in high-risk conditions, as our solely recognized an infection at residence had brought on me vital post-COVID signs which have lingered for greater than 16 months. We fell quick in diligence by way of our COVID precautions as soon as and had been contaminated, so naturally wish to do our greatest to not catch it once more.
Peter Vogel writes: My household continues to take cheap care to keep away from COVID and different airborne ailments. We dine out provided that there’s out of doors seating, and keep away from massive indoor gatherings except we’re certain there’s good air flow. If we should be a part of indoor crowds (akin to a college meeting) we masks and open home windows the place potential.
Solely one of many 4 of us has had COVID (not less than that was symptomatic). We settle for that we will’t keep away from it fully however fewer, smaller exposures should be much less dangerous.
Amy Lewis writes: I proceed to put on a masks in indoor public areas. I’ve to as a result of I’ve lengthy COVID and my husband has had a double lung transplant, so he’s closely immunocompromised — at worst COVID represents a life-threatening danger for him.
COVID is usually falsely in contrast with the flu, however the incidence is far increased, as is the mortality price; there are a number of COVID waves a yr (in contrast with one for the flu) and the long-term results of COVID are severe and extra widespread.
State and federal governments proceed to make use of the time period “defending the susceptible”, however what safety is there should you’re in danger and have children at college, a job, or wish to be an energetic member of your neighborhood? Despite the fact that lengthy COVID has severely affected my well being and life for practically two years, I don’t even qualify for antivirals. We’re advised by the federal government to take “private duty”, however the instruments we use to do that are progressively decreased and eliminated.
We do perceive how one can scale back COVID transmission danger and governments now must act preventively simply as for different severe well being points. The present “vaccine-only” strategy is clearly not working, and the onus shouldn’t be on at-risk folks to guard themselves. For what different public well being challenge can we do this? The technique not solely places susceptible folks at unfair danger but in addition leads to an increasing number of folks with lengthy COVID.
All of us want to tug our heads out of the sand, similar to now we have for local weather change, acknowledge there’s a downside and begin to act on it.
For anybody looking for assist, Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and Past Blue is on 1300 22 4636. In an emergency, name 000.