Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
We predict that assisted suicide bills will be introduced in at least 20 states and some states that legalized assisted suicide will debate bills to expand their assisted suicide laws, in 2021.
In 2020, many states debated assisted suicide bills but most of those bills died on the order paper. Some of the assisted suicide bills died on the order paper because the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily shut down state legislatures.
We are very concerned about possible assisted suicide bills in Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico and New York, among others.
Links to key articles for fighting assisted suicide:
- A patient's journey. If we jumped on the death train, that man would have died (Link).
- Assisted suicide bills are not what they appear to be (Link).
- 12 myths about assisted suicide and Medical Aid in Dying (Link).
- Oregon 2019 assisted suicide report (Link).
- The Netherlands to extend euthanasia to children (Link).
- Be careful what you wish for when you legalize killing (Link).
- Assisted suicide deaths may not be quick or peaceful (Link).
- Assisted suicide doctor conducts human experiments in killing people (Link).
- Prolonged painful deaths and assisted suicide lethal drug experiments (Link).
- Hawaii assisted suicide report urges removal of safeguards (Link).
- Dr Anne Hanson's testimony opposing assisted suicide (Link).
- Pressured to die by assisted death (Link).
- Assisted suicide by telehealth and medical misdiagnosis (Link).
- There is no effective oversight of assisted suicide laws (Link).
- The assisted suicide lobby plans to eliminate safeguards (Link).
- Psychiatrists must prevent suicide not provide it (Link).
- Federal study finds assisted suicide laws are rife with dangers to people with disabilities (Link).
In January 2019 I commented on an article by the CEO of Compassion & Choices, (formerly known as the Hemlock society) who stated that assisted suicide laws need fewer regulations.
In Oregon, the number of assisted suicide deaths increased to 188 reported deaths in 2019. In 2019 Oregon passed Bill SB 0579 which came into effect on January 1, 2020, which essentially eliminated the 15 day waiting period. There were other Oregon assisted suicide expansion bills debated in 2019, that may return in 2021.
In Washington state the legislature debated Bill 2419 states a study bill to examine the elimination of "safeguards" in assisted suicide laws. Section f of the bill questioned the need to self-administer lethal drugs. If lethal drugs are not self-administered then someone else must administer, thus legalizing euthanasia.
The Hawaii 2019 assisted suicide report indicated that 15 people reportedly died by assisted suicide in 2019. The report also included preliminary 2020 data indicating that in the first few months of 2020, 13 people reportedly died by assisted suicide.
In the final paragraph of the assisted suicide report the Hawaii Department of Health recommends the following changes to the assisted suicide law:
Waiver of any waiting periods if the attending provider and consulting provider agree that patient death is likely prior to the end of the waiting periods.
Given access to health care providers is limited, the DOH recommends authorizing advance practice registered nurses to serve as attending providers for patients seeking medical aid in dying.
The Hawaii Department of Health recommendations follow the direction of the assisted suicide lobby.
For those who are organizing to stop assisted suicide in their State EPC suggests the following:
- Refer to assisted suicide, and stay away from politically motivated language.
- focus on how assisted suicide is done. The assisted suicide lobby is experimenting with new drug combinations as they attempt to find cheaper lethal drug cocktails.
- Assisted suicide bills are not what they appear to be. Focus on what the bill actually says, rather than focusing on the theory of assisted suicide.
- In 2020, several of the assisted suicide bills permitted euthanasia or used undefined language enabling the legislation to be interpreted in a wider manner, while other bills ignored conscience rights for medical professionals.
Defeating assisted suicide bills requires a complete analysis of the bill, outlining the problems with the bill. All of these bills are designed to expand over time.
Emphasize what assisted suicide is and how it is done and discuss how the assisted suicide lobby is conducting unethical lethal drug experiments. They speak about compassion and choices and yet they have caused some horrific deaths.
Work together. All perspectives are important, but stay focused on your goal, that being, protecting people from assisted suicide.
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