The Hawaii Legislature is considering legalizing assisted suicide (Senate Bill 1129 SD1). I am a doctor in Oregon, where assisted suicide is legal.

In 2000, I had a cancer patient named Jeanette Hall who was adamant that she was going to use Oregon’s law. Without treatment, she had a prognosis of six months to a year to live, rendering her “eligible.” I convinced her to be treated instead. Today, 16 years later, she is thrilled to be alive.

In Oregon, the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) steers patients to suicide in lieu of desired treatments for cure or to extend life. Private insurers have this same ability. Do you want this to be your choice?

Legal assisted suicide encourages people with years to live to throw away their lives and allows providers to steer patients to suicide in lieu of treatment.

Tell your legislators to vote “No” on SB 1129 SD1.

Kenneth Stevens, M.D.

Sherwood, Ore.

Legal Assisted Suicide Encourages People With Years to Live to Throw Away Their Lives

Jeanette Hall

http://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/03/01/editorial/letters/learn-lessons-of-oregons-law/

The Hawaii Legislature is considering legalizing assisted suicide (Senate Bill 1129 SD1). I am a doctor in Oregon, where assisted suicide is legal.

In 2000, I had a cancer patient named Jeanette Hall who was adamant that she was going to use Oregon’s law. Without treatment, she had a prognosis of six months to a year to live, rendering her “eligible.” I convinced her to be treated instead. Today, 16 years later, she is thrilled to be alive.

Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia Act Must Be Rejected

HONOLULU, Feb. 27, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attorney Margaret Dore, president of Choice is an Illusion, which is fighting assisted suicide and euthanasia legalization efforts throughout the United States, made the following statement in connection with an assisted suicide/euthanasia bill set for hearing tomorrow in the Hawaii State Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor. The bill is SB 1129 S.D. 1.

“The bill seeks to pass a proposed act legalizing assisted suicide and allowing euthanasia,” said Dore. “If enacted, the act will apply to people with years or decades to live. The act is a recipe for elder abuse, especially for people with money, meaning the middle class and above in the inheritance situation.”

Make a page Dore Memo Opposing SB 1129 SD1

• Prevent non-voluntary assisted       suicide;
• Prevent non-voluntary euthanasia;
• Prevent people with years to live,   from throwing away their lives;
• Stop legal elder abuse;
• Preserve government                   transparency and integrity;        
• Don’t let Hawaii become corrupt     like Oregon.

To view a pdf version of this document, click here for the memo and click here for the appendix

Dore Testimony Excerpt Opposing SB 1129 SD 1

Margaret Dore, Esq.
 "[W]ill people be killed by
their heirs and other
perpetrators in a black hole
of  wishful thinking?"

To Chairman Keith-Agaran and members of the Committee:

[The proposed act in SB 1129 SD 1 seeks to legalize physician-assisted suicide and allow euthanasia. My memo and documentation opposing the act can be viewed here and here].

The act will encourage people with years or decades to live to throw away their lives.  (See memo, pp 3-6). The act is a recipe for elder abuse, especially for those in the middle class and above in the inheritance situation. (Id., pp. 8-9). The act creates the perfect crime in which the death is allowed to occur in private, without oversight, and the death certificate gives perpetrators a "stay out of jail free card."  (Id., pp. 10-13).

SB 1129 SD 1 Creates the Perfect Crime

Senate Chamber

The proposed act (SB 1129 SD 1) legalizes physician-assisted suicide and allows euthanasia as long as actions are taken in “accordance” with the act.

The proposed act applies to people with years or decades to live. The act is a recipe for elder abuse, especially in the inheritance situation for persons middle class and above.

To view a supporting memo, click here and here

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.