STATE MUST HELP END DYING'S PAIN

I wholeheartedly agree with Carol McKay that the DEA needs to stay out of
the sick rooms of dying patients (letter in Forum, 1-27).

John Ashcroft's threats to penalize doctors who prescribe sufficient pain
medication to relieve the suffering of terminally ill patients have a
chilling efect on physician's decisions. Doctors are aware that non-medical
personnel (DEA agents) do not have sufficient knowledge to judge what is or
is not sufficient medication to relieve pain.

It is time for Wisconsin to join the many other states that have or are
considering laws that mandate that sufficient medication be given to
elininate pain for the dying.

It is also time for the people of Wisconsin to tell the government that we
have a right to make some decisions for ourselves and to stop being
intrusive in our private lives.

Dawn E. Stucki, Waunakee