Kathryn Judson: "Assisted Suicide? 'I was afraid to leave my husband alone again with doctors and nurses'”

Letter to the editor from Oregon resident, Kathryn Judson (Click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page to view the original letter). 

Hello from Oregon.

When my husband was seriously ill several years ago, I collapsed in a half-exhausted heap in a chair once I got him into the doctor's office, relieved that we were going to get badly needed help (or so I thought).

To my surprise and horror, during the exam I overheard the doctor giving my husband a sales pitch for assisted suicide. 'Think of what it will spare your wife, we need to think of her' he said, as a clincher.

"Aid in Dying" Is a Traditional and Misleading Euphemism for Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia

By Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA

Yesterday, the Hawaii State Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health amended SB 1129, "a bill for an act relating to health".  The bill seeks to pass an act legalizing physician-assisted suicide and allowing euthanasia.

The new amended version, SB 1129 SD1, changes the title of the proposed act to the 'Medical Aid in Dying Act.'"[1]

"Aid in Dying" is a traditional euphemism for physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. See, for example, this article from 1992: Maria T. Celocruz, "'Aid-in-Dying': Should we decriminalize Physician-Assisted Suicide and Physician-Committed Euthanasia?," American Journal of Law and Medicine."

Use of the term, "aid in dying," is also misleading because the act applies to people with years or decades to live (not dying). See here

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[1]  SB 1129 SD1, SECTION 2, page 2 (bottom of the page)

Proposed Act Applies to People with Years or Decades to Live

By Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA

William Toffler, MD

The proposed act in SB 1129 SD1 applies to persons with a “terminal disease,” meaning those predicted to have less than six months to live.[1]  Such persons may actually have years or decades to live. This is true for three reasons:

A. Treatment Can Lead to Recovery

In 2000, Oregonian Jeanette Hall was given a terminal diagnosis of six months to a year to live, which was based on her not being treated for cancer.[2] Hall made a settled decision to use Oregon’s law, but her doctor convinced her to be treated instead.  In a 2016 declaration, she states:

This July, it will be 16 years since my diagnosis.  If [my doctor] had believed in assisted suicide, I would be dead.[3]

Tell the Hawaii Legislature to Vote “No” on SB 1129

By Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA

SB 1129 legalizes physician-assisted suicide and allows euthanasia as long as actions are taken in “accordance” with the act.

The proposed Oregon style act applies to people with years or decades to live. The act is a recipe for elder abuse.

To view a legal analysis opposing the bill, with supporting documentation, click here.  To view the analysis without the supporting documentation, click here.

False idea No. 4

Oregon has had an assisted suicide law for almost 20 years. This proves it’s OK. The truth: Actually, this probably proves that the Oregon record-keeping is meaningless. No human endeavor involving sickness and death operates for 20 years without abuse, fraud, complications, and difficulty. Oregon’s records were deliberately set up by the organization to conceal problems, and they have done so for 20 years.

Michael H. Plumer

Don't Drink Hemlock: Compassion & Choices' Mission Is to Promote Suicide

Hemlock

The push to enact HB 201 (assisted suicide/euthanasia)  is being
spearheaded by the suicide advocacy group, Compassion
& Choices.

Compassion & Choices was formed in 2004 as the result of a merger/takeover of two other organizations.[1] One of these organizations was the former Hemlock Society, originally formed by Derek Humphry.[2]

HB 201 Allows Euthanai