Dr. Regina McQuillan:

I am absolutely clear that I will never give morphine or any other drug with the intention of ending somebody's life. If I am looking after somebody whose death is very close then I am aware that no matter what drugs I give that patient, he or she will die very soon. One of the great advances in palliative medicine since I started 30 years is the fact that we now have a range of different strong pain-killers. A patient who does not do well with morphine can thus be given different pain-killers, which help. I am very clear, however, that I never have and never will give a patient morphine with the intention of ending his or her life.

If somebody is very ill then I will also try to weigh up the balance, just as I do in the case where I might give a patient Brufen despite knowing of the risk to the kidneys. Having weighed up that balance I might give morphine, but I am very clear that while I will not leave people to suffer, nor will I be careless with the medication I give. I will never give medication with the intention of ending a patient's life. I will never do that.