[Margaret Pilkington]

John, that is because Morphine is regulated by the Dangerous Drugs Act(1920) and is what is known as a controlled drug........and yes Dianne, Morphine does depress the respiratory centre in the brain....all opiates do this, but the effect is much more pronounced in the absence of pain.....so if you give someone who is painfree, a good dose of morphine, it is a good way to see them off this mortal coil......thier breathing will just get shallower and shallower until it stops altogether.