Week 16/2017 in the Death with Dignity Movement

In the week from April 17 to April 23, 2017:

• The Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services of the Maine State Legislature held a work session on LD 347/LD 1066, a pair of medical aid in dying bills, voting 5 to 8 against, with a divided report and recommendation “Ought Not to Pass.”
• Meanwhile, the Kennebec Journal/Portland Press Herald endorsed the two bills, and Maine Governor Paul LePage came out strongly against them, vowing to veto any such legislation.

Maine

• “Give dying chance at merciful peace,” Kennebec Journal/CentralMaine.com, 4/17/2017
• “Our View: Lawmakers should back ‘death with dignity’ bill,” Kennebec Journal/CentralMaine.com, 4/18/2017 (also published in the Portland Press Herald)
• “LePage on ‘Death With Dignity’ Bills: ‘I Just Don’t Believe In It’,” Maine Public, 4/18/2017
• “LePage says he will veto assisted suicide bill,” Portland Press Herald, 4/18/2017
• “Assisted-death bill fails to earn support of Maine legislative committee,” Portland Press Herald, 4/19/2017
• “LePage Clarifies Assisted Suicide Stance, Says Still Against,” US News & World Report (via Associated Press), 4/20/2017
• “Letter to the editor: Death with dignity is not the same choice as suicide,” Portland Press Herald, 4/22/2017

Elsewhere

• Colorado: “New Online Tool Will Support Access To Colorado’s Medical Aid In Dying Law,” Colorado Public Radio, 4/18/2017
• Hawaii: “Mourning the ‘Death with Dignity’ bill,” West Hawaii Today, 4/17/2017