Huge Setback for Proponents

Anne Hanson, MD

On March 16, 2020, the Maryland Legislature adjourned without passing bills seeking to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia (HB 643 and SB 701). Dr. Anne Hanson, states:

We testified on the Senate version, SB 701, on 2/28/20. There was no hearing on the House bill and neither advanced out of committee. Best success we've had since the first go-around in 2015!

Hansen added, this was "a huge setback for proponents considering the bill failed to pass into law by one vote last year."

Thank you to Dr. Hanson and everyone else who made this possible.

Dore Memo Opposing Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia

Senate Chamber

"Don't make yourself and the people you care about sitting ducks to heirs and other predators."

To view pdf memo and appendix, click here and here.

I.   INTRODUCTION 

Bills SB 701 and HB 643 seek to legalize “aid in dying,” a euphemism meaning active euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.[1] 

The bills employ other euphemisms, and also non sequiturs, which render the bills difficult to understand. As an example, the bills refer to the lethal dose used to kill patients as “medication,” a word normally defined as a “substance used to treat disease or injury.”[2]

The bills are also not limited to dying people, “eligible” persons may have years or decades to live. Voluntary patient action is allowed, but not required. For all these reasons, I urge you to vote “No” on SB 701 and HB 643.