Week 26/2015 in the Death with Dignity Movement

Last week, from June 22 to June 28, 2015:

• The California Assembly Health Committee hearing on Senate Bill 128, End of Life Option Act, was rescheduled to July 7 while the bill’s sponsors seek to round up the votes.
• In New Hampshire calls re-emerged calling for Death with Dignity to be legalized after Governor Hasson vetoed a bill that would establish a task force exploring end-of-life options in the state.
• The Economist magazine featured a themed issue, “The right to die,” with a number of articles:
  • Leader: “The right to die”
  • Briefing: “Final certainty”
  • Polls: “Widely supported” and “Attitudes towards assisted dying”

California

• “Mercury News editorial: Death with dignity bill deserves full California Assembly vote,” San Jose Mercury News, 6/22/2015
• “Vote on California assisted death bill delayed,” Sacramento Bee, 6/23/2015
• “Editorial: California needs a right-to-die law,” Los Angeles Times, 6/23/2015
• “California aid-in-dying bill hits roadblock,” SF Gate / San Francisco Chronicle, 6/23/2015
• “California’s Physician-Assisted Suicide Bill Hits Snag,” KQED News, 6/24/2015
• “Terminally ill transgender El Monte man wishes he could legally end his own life,” Pasadena Star-News, 6/25/2015
• “Dying wait while Assembly waffles,” Sacramento Bee, 6/27/2015
• “San Diego’s role in Death with Dignity Act,” San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/28/2015
• “Dying with dignity should be a right,” Napa Valley Register, 6/26/2015
• “Dolores Huerta lobbies California Assembly for assisted death bill,” Sacramento Bee, 6/26/2015
• “Video: Dolores Huerta lobbies for assisted death bill,” Sacramento Bee, 6/26/2015

New Hampshire

• “A creative response to the ending of life,” Cape Cod Times, 6/23/2015
• “Our View: Laws must dignify life and death,” SeacoastOnline.com, 6/25/2015

Elsewhere

• Maine: “Letter to the editor: Death with dignity shouldn’t be called suicide,” Portland Press Herald, 6/22/2015
• Minnesota: “The ethical implications of physician-assisted suicide,” MPR News, 6/23/2015
• New Jersey: “Advocates for end-of-life law take their cause to the mall,” Edison/Metuchen Sentinel, 6/25/2015
• Tennessee: “John Jay Hooker a worthy advocate for death with dignity,” Tennessean, 6/28/2015

Other Stories

• “[I]t’s a false choice between assisted dying and palliative care – dying people are best served by both.” “A false choice: Assisted dying vs palliative care, Politics Home, 6/23/2015

Featured image by jun.skywalker.