To the editor:

Dr. Sally White’s letter to the editor of March 19 attacking Rev. Jeff Black’s letter to the editor of March 11, which supported the Medical Aid in Dying Act (Assembly Bill 4321) is puzzling to say the least. Rev. Black eloquently pointed out that some terminally ill individuals who are suffering intractable pain can be helped by doctors who should be allowed to prescribe a lethal dose of medicine that the patient can take at the time of their choosing. This option would only be available to individuals of sound mind who have less than six months to live. Dr. White states that “there are effective treatments for physical, emotional and existential pain.” She has apparently been living and practicing medicine in a different universe than I worked in for over 50 years. I agree with her that the New York medical community “should improve end-of-life care and make pain management and other solutions available to everyone.” But in the meantime, people are suffering needlessly at the end of their lives, and it is the obligation of society in general, and physicians in particular, to make their exodus from this life as peaceful as possible. I support Assembly Bill 4321 and have asked both my assemblyman (Billy Jones) and state senator (Dan Stec) to support this bill. I urge you to join me in this endeavor.

Michael C. Sinclair, MD

Vermontville