Week 11/2015 in the Death with Dignity Movement

In the week from March 8 to March 14, 2015:

• Maryland was in the spotlight of the Death with Dignity movement with the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing drawing dozens of testimonies, including from our Executive Director, Peg Sandeen.
• Connecticut geared up to its Assembly hearing this week on the proposed physician-assisted dying bill.
• Our friend Dr. Peter Rasmussen, MD, coined an op-ed in the Baltimore Sun in support of the bill and Marylanders’ right to Death with Dignity as an end-of-life option.
• Montana saw a rollercoaster in the House when a proposed bill outlawing physician-assisted dying first passed and eventually failed on a split vote.
• The New York Times endorsed Death with Dignity as an end-of-life option for the terminally ill.
• Though the Utah Death with Dignity Act was tabled until next year, a discussion about the issue started in the state. A poll showed the majority of Utahns are in favor of such legislation.
• In Vermont, a bill passed in the Senate that removed the sunset provision from the state’s Death with Dignity bill, keeping safeguards intact.
• Across the pond, beloved author and dying with dignity campaigner Terry Pratchett died.

California

• “California right-to-die bill set for hearing this month,” Press Democrat, 3/10/2015
• “Robert Olvera: Aid in dying is not ‘assisted suicide’,” Battle Creek Enquirer, 3/11/2015
• “The Last Promise Dan Diaz Made to His Wife, Brittany Maynard,” Oprah, 3/15/2015

Connecticut

• “Judiciary Committee Will Hold Hearing on Aid-In-Dying Bill Next Week,” Hartford Courant, 3/10/2015
• “Q Poll Finds Broad Support for Aid-In-Dying Legislation,” Hartford Courant, 3/11/2015 [ Quinnipiac University Release ]
• “Hearing planned on latest Connecticut doctor assisted suicide bill,” Fox CT, 3/15/2015

Maryland

• “Death with Dignity,” WYPR, 3/9/2015
• “Baltimore Ravens’ O.J. Brigance joins emotional death with dignity debate,” Baltimore Sun, 3/10/2015
• “Civil, disability rights groups clash over ‘death with dignity’ bill The Daily Record, 3/10/2015
• “Supporters And Opponents Of Maryland ‘Death With Dignity’ Bill Share Emotional Testimony,” WAMU 88.5, 3/10/2015
• “General Assembly Considers ‘Death With Dignity’,” WYPR, 3/10/2015
• “Hogan says he is taking a ‘serious look’ at ‘Death With Dignity’ bill,” Washington Post, 3/10/2015
• “‘Right to Die’ Md. bill moves forward in Senate,” Delmarva Now, 3/11/2015
• “Death-with-dignity legislation is moral, compassionate option,” The Frederick News-Post, 3/12/2015
• “Sponsor Of Physician Assisted Suicide Bill Believes Lawmakers Won’t Vote On Issue,” WBAL1090, 3/15/1025

Montana

• “House narrowly endorses bill outlawing physician-assisted suicide in Montana,” Montana Standard, 3/13/2015
• “Right-to-die bill allowing doctor prosecution defeated,” Great Falls Tribune, 3/13/2015
• “House deadlocks on bill to outlaw doctor-assisted suicide,” The Montana Standard, 3/13/1025

Utah

• “Death With Dignity Bill Put On Hold,” Utah Public Radio, 3/10/1025
• “More Than 6 in 10 Utahns Favor ‘Right-to-Die’ Legislation,” UtahPolicy.com, 3/6/2015

Vermont

• “Aid-in-dying law comes up for review,” Rutland Herald, 3/8/2015
• “Senate Rejects Effort to Repeal Physician-Assisted Suicide Law,” VTDigger.org, 3/11/2015
• “Senate Extends Law Allowing Terminally Ill To Request Life-Ending Drugs,” Vermont Public Radio, 3/11/2015
• “VT Senate supports current ‘right-to-die’ law,” Burlington Free Press, 3/11/1025
• “Vermont Senate Supports Protections for End-of-Life Law,” My Champlain Valley, 3/11/1025
• “Vermont Senate backs current ‘right-to-die’ law,” Portland Press Herald, 3/12/1025

Other Stories

• “Death with Dignity and Self-Determination,” Huffington Post, 3/9/1025
• “The Death With Dignity Debate Misses The Point,” Forbes, 3/11/2015

Featured image by Daniel Blume.