Dr. Ronald W. Pies is a distinguished academic psychiatrist, but his remarks against medical aid in dying appear to derive from lack of experience in end-of-life care (“Sad to see doctors group rethinking end-of-life stance,’’ Letters, Jan. 11). I am a psychiatrist who has worked in a hospice. I have seen that voluntary starvation and palliative sedation can work well. However, they can sometimes be long, grueling, uncertain travails for all concerned.

Patients with terminal physical illnesses have no choice about whether to die, but they deserve to be able to decide for themselves how to die.

It is ludicrous for Pies to compare the kind, carefully crafted laws now existing in Oregon, California, and other states to handing a patient a loaded gun. There is a great difference.

These laws don’t force any patient or doctor to do anything they don’t want to do. Rather, these laws only permit a merciful, dignified option for the small number of people who need it.

Pies can do what he wants for himself, but is it right for him to insist on his personal preference for others?

Dr. Carl N. Brownsberger

Belmont