Letter: Medical guidelines

Sir: Your article "Doctors get help to make life and death decisions" (25 September) highlights the pressure and tremendous dilemmas that both doctors and parents of a severely disabled child can face.

At Sense, The National Deafblind and Rubella Association, we have grave reservations about withholding treatment where the child's life is said to have "no purpose". We work closely with many families and their severely disabled children giving them the support, information and services that they so vitally need. Our experience over many years shows that, with early intervention and access to specialist services, many children have achieved a great deal, contrary to early medical opinion. We have seen numerous adults and children thrive in our services, enjoy life and reach a position where they can engage in choice on some level.

Rodney Clark,

Chief Executive

Sense, The National Deafblind and Rubella Association

London N4