Summary of an hour talk on Death With Dignity or Compassionate Choices in MA efforts to pass a law
- About a dozen people heard the presenters for a MA Death With Dignity Act which would give people who have terminal illness (verified by two doctors) with less than 6 months to live (more or less) who are of sound mind (with a mental health practitioner verifying that), two witnesses who are not related validating the person's request.
The person would need to be able to administer their own strong barbiturate cocktail (by emptying vials into a drink they consume on their own.) That would cause a coma and death in about a half an hour...Don't mean to minimize what that is...just relaying the information as it was shared.Only people who are over 18 would be eligible for this kind of medically assisted procedure to end their own life. Compassionate Choices and the Western Massachusetts Death With Dignity groups have information online as well. When the bill came up a few years back, it did not pass by just a few votes. Not all people who get the prescription use it, only about 1/3rd one doctor shared.
That is mainly how the other states that allow for it have the parameters drawn up. It is not for people who have a poor quality of life only, have serious disabilities or mental health conditions
. Canada does have medically assisted suicide with the option to have physicians administer a shot, again with certain criteria in place as to the above terms.
Some countries in Europe also have these options (the Netherlands, Switzerland were mentioned by someone.) There are 7 or 8 states plus DC that have approved it. CT is considering it. The history in MA for proposing the bill has had over a decade of consideration.Edit or delete this - Catherine Paton I added some points I have heard, such as very few people who signed up for assisted suicide with Dr. Kervorkian followed through with doing so. Generally people wanted to live their last days with family or other support people and took comfort in facing decline with support particularly if pain were not too bad.
The Quality of Life ideas (needing help with toileting, self-care and eating etc) may be a concern for some people yet many people live for years with that kind of challenge and often adjust fairly well. I know a few people in very compromised situations physically who love their life (some more than others...but isn't that the case with people who have all of their faculties...) Also I said The Reconnection site and book (which indicated someone with a Near Death Experience did not advise ending one's life, as many various spiritual teachings have also shared) are worth looking at as are many alternative theories about our spirit, soul, abilities as humans and other energies and such in the universe.
From what I read there could be many healing modalities to handle pain more readily (integrative health, therapy, music, acupuncture, herbs and so on...and a few miracles.)
That said, the ability to have support to manage pain and enjoy life as much as one can given various challenges is something we could all think about how to journey through whether for ourselves, loved ones or others we may be able to assist.
At this point in 2019 the Catholic Church is in opposition to the Death With Dignity Act. The Medical Society of MA was also opposed in years passed, but after their many members were polled, most were found to be more open to supporting what the legislation deemed people wanted, so they changed to a neutrally engaged position. I hope these points are helpful as CT is considering a similar bill. Feel free to add your thoughts here or anonymously etc on livfully.org
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