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HIGHLIGHT PIECE OF THE WEEK |
Pain Is Manageable And Not A Reason For Assisted Suicide |
Dr. Gerald L. Peer, anesthesiologist and pain management physician, writes, "There are good reasons to keep physician-assisted suicide illegal in New York. Uncontrolled pain in the terminally ill is a call for better pain management and soulful counseling – not for [assisted suicide]." |
In April, the New York State Assembly passed, by a close vote of 81-67, dangerous and discriminatory assisted suicide legislation. During the last week of session, on Monday, June 9th, the New York State Senate approved assisted suicide by a vote of 35-27. A slim majority over the necessary 32 votes for passage. The bill will now head to the desk of Governor Kathy Hochul, who needs to hear from YOU. Click the link below to tell the Governor to VETO this bill! |
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Assisted Suicide Deaths Driven By Untreated Suffering |
Dr. Ramona Coelho, family physician in Ontario, writes, "Sadly, many [assisted suicide] deaths are driven by untreated suffering: isolation, feelings of being a burden, and lack of care. Ableism and ageism play a role, with some assessors judging certain lives as less worthy of living. Disability is often equated with illness, yet disabled individuals are members of a community recognized under the UN human rights standards, and their community faces systemic barriers."
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| Psychiatrists Must Prevent All Forms of Suicide |
Mark Komrad, clinical professor of psychiatry, answers these questions in this podcast, "What can the UK learn from flawed safeguards in Oregon’s model of assisted suicide, where the law has expanded and where financial considerations often outweigh ethical concerns, creating a troubling precedent in medical practice?" |
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Governor Hochul Must Reject Assisted Suicide Bill |
Kathleen DeMers states, "Legalized assisted suicide can tempt caregivers to put pressure on frail, terminally ill patients to consent to kill themselves. People in despair and without sufficient resources may want to please their caregivers and agree to take deadly drugs... We try to help people in pain or mental distress, and we must improve end-of-life care. We can do better than death assisted by others and sanctioned by our state." |
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For the most recent update on assisted suicide laws in the states, click here or on the image of the states below. |
"End Assisted Suicide" is the group of plaintiffs suing the state of California to overturn the Assisted Suicide law there. Our 501(c)(3) sister organization, the Institute for Patients' Rights, has joined this ground-breaking lawsuit as a plaintiff. |
We’ve joined a federal lawsuit in Colorado with a coalition of national and Colorado-based disability and patient advocacy organizations - Atlantis ADAPT, United Spinal Association, Not Dead Yet, the Institute for Patients’ Rights, and Mary Gossman, a woman with anorexia.
The plaintiffs argue the Colorado assisted suicide law violates core protections under the U.S. Constitution and federal civil rights laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. |
If you’re in crisis, there are options available to help you cope. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at any time to connect with a trained crisis counselor. For confidential support available 24/7 for everyone in the U.S., call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. |
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PRAF is a leading national, non-partisan single-issue organization that protects the rights of patients, people with disabilities, older adults, and other historically underrepresented groups from deadly harm and discrimination inherent in assisted suicide laws. |
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