Assisted suicide has hidden harms.

Dr Kion Hoffman wrote this opinion article for the Duluth News Tribune who published it on September 7, 2024.

Dr Kion Hoffman

As a family practice physician with 35 years of experience, I’ve had many conversations with patients about their fears as they approach the ends of their lives. A common concern is they don't want to be a burden to their families. This is a natural fear, but it is one that should be met with compassion, not with the option of physician-assisted suicide.

The legalization of physician-assisted suicide in Minnesota would be a dangerous step. It would quickly move from being an option to an obligation for many vulnerable individuals. The pressure to choose physician-assisted suicide could come from the fear of being a burden, the desire to avoid the high costs of long-term care, or the perceived expectation from others that physician-assisted suicide is the right thing to do. This could create a dangerous environment where those who are most vulnerable are given the impression their lives are no longer worth living.

Families, in my experience, rarely see their loved ones as burdens. On the contrary, caring for a family member at the end of life often becomes a deeply meaningful experience. It is a time for expressing love, for forgiveness, and for reconciling relationships that may have been strained. These moments of care and connection are precious and irreplaceable, and they should not be cut short by a premature decision to end life.

I can speak to this from personal experience. My father, a man who lived an active life well into his 80s, struggled deeply when he lost his physical abilities. In his frustration, he asked several doctors to help him end his life. If physician-assisted suicide had been legal, I fear someone might have complied with his request. Instead, we had three more years with him. During that time, my youngest brother and my father had some time together that they needed. My father continued to bring joy to those around him, even while living in a nursing home. His life was still valuable and still full of moments that mattered. His pain was managed, and he died naturally at the age of 92, with me holding his hand.

Legalizing physician-assisted suicide would rob families of these precious, final moments. It would send a message to those who are suffering that their lives are not worth living.

There are many ways to make the end of life more comfortable and even meaningful. Physician-assisted suicide is not the answer. For the sake of our elders, our families, and our community, when this issue comes up again at the Minnesota Legislature, please let your representative and state senator know how you feel.

Dr. Kion Hoffman is a family-practice physician in Cohasset. He wrote this for the News Tribune.