Maurer was right: Give people relief

Mickey Maurer’s commentary (Aug. 10) on physician-assisted dying resonates with all of us who have experienced a
loved one’s suffering with a terminal illness.

There was a related case about 25 years ago when former Indiana
Gov. Otis Bowen, M.D., became desperate when his beloved wife, Beth, was dying with extreme pain from multiple myloma, a cancer
in her bones. Bowen turned to Indiana state Sen. Larry Borst, chairman of the Finance Committee and a veterinarian, and asked
for dimethyl sulfoxide solvent, an experimental painkiller meant for horses.

When Borst protested that this was
breaking the law and he could lose his license, Bowen assured him that this would not happen as long as he was governor. Borst
supplied the drug and it provided a lot of relief. He said the moral obligation of compassionate use of the drug was
paramount.

It is time for competent Hoosiers suffering at the end of their lives to have access to all modern medicines
for humane relief. Oregon proves this can be done responsibly.

Clarke Miller
President,
Compassion & Choices of Indiana