Readers: Missouri Should Join States, Like Oregon, Allowing Physician-Assisted Suicide For The Terminally Ill
In the last year the issue of physician-assisted suicide has been in news again, prompted by the following video by Brittany Maynard.
After moving from California to Oregon, she ended her life on November 1, 2014. Her husband returned to California and pushed for legislation, which passed earlier this month:
The California Senate approved a controversial bill Friday that would legalize physician-prescribed life-ending medication for terminally ill patients. The focus now moves to Gov. Jerry Brown, who has yet to indicate where he stands on the issue. (Time)
I’ve supported right-to-die since the issue came into the public arena in the late 90s with Jack Kevorkian. While I don’t understand religious objections, I get other reasons:
Disability rights advocates and oncologists opposed the legislation, saying it takes advantage of the poor and vulnerable. (San Jose Mercury News)
I can see how someone wouldn’t want to be a burden on their family, not a good reason to die. On the other hand, we don’t know the pain & suffering they endure. Who are we to tell them they must continue suffering rather than dying in a more dignified manner?
Here are the results from the Sunday Poll:
Q: Agree or disagree? Missouri should join states, like Oregon, allowing physician-assisted suicide for the terminally ill.
- Strongly agree 20 [47.62%]
- Agree 11 [26.19%]
- Strongly disagree 6 [14.29%]
- Somewhat agree 3 [7.14%]
- TIE 1 [2.38%]
- Somewhat disagree
- Disagree
- TIE: 0 [0%]
- Neutral
- Unsure/No Answer
Those voting on the agree side accounted for over 80% of the votes in the non-scientific poll. Strong support, but I don’t see this getting anywhere in Missouri.
— Steve Patterson
One, it should be a personal choice, not a state decision. And two, I’ve known (and seen) too many elderly people who would rather leave this world gracefully, and who either become “science experiments” (in prolonging life) in hospitals, “living” another few weeks or months, at great, but futile, expense, or, like my late mother, slowly declining into dementia and facing a gradual, general decline of all systems, including sight, hearing, digestion and mobility. Death with dignity should be a choice we all have . . .