Agony

This article in today's New York Times and also the accompanying slide show are agonizing. Backwards drug policies and societal attitudes in some countries and with some religions about the necessity of suffering leave many in despair and, as the title of the article states, "Dying From Pain". I personally can't think of anything more sadistic than not help to alleviate the suffering of these people. It is a form of torture imposed by government policy and religion/society.