Assisted Suicide Defeated

Senator Obie Patterson (in blue)

By Pamela Wood, Baltimore Sun

A measure that would have legalized medically assisted suicide in Maryland was defeated Wednesday on a dramatic tie vote in the state Senate.

Sen. Obie Patterson, a Prince George’s County Democrat, was in his seat but did not cast a vote, ultimately spelling the bill’s demise.

“I did not cast a vote simply because I could not bring myself to move right or left on the bill and therefore I didn’t vote at all,” Patterson told reporters later.

Attorney Sara Buscher Opposes SB 311

RE:  SB 311

Please do not vote for  this bill to be reported out of committee. Do everything you can to oppose passage.

Under the bill, safeguards end when the lethal dose is in the home. With no required witness, if the person struggled, who would know?

Slayers can inherit because 5-6A-11 (D)(2) says a death with such a lethal dose is not homicide.

Elder abuse affects 1 in 10 elders and triples their risk of death. https://www.ncoa.org/public-policy-action/elder-justice/elder-abusefacts/

Dore Memo Opposing HB 399 and SB 311

To view this memo and supporting documentation as a pdf, click here

I. INTRODUCTION  

I am an attorney in Washington State where assisted suicide is legal.[1] Our law is based on a similar law in Oregon.[2] Both laws are similar to the proposed bills, HB 399 and SB 311.[3]

The bills seek to legalize physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia as those terms are traditionally defined. The bills call these practices, “aid in dying.” If enacted, the bills will apply to people with years, even decades, to live.

The bills will also allow undue influence. A required falsification of the death record will provide cover for murder. I urge you to vote “No” on HB 399 and SB 311.

"Powerful Testimony" Presented by Elder Law Attorney Margaret Dore

Assisted Suicide Proponents Wilt After Tough Questioning by Committee

http://www.choiceillusion.org/2016/03/assisted-suicide-proponents-wilt-after.html From Stop Assisted Suicide Maryland

Posted on February 26, 2016

(Annopolis MD) Proponents of physician-assisted suicide struggled to answer the tough questions thrown at them at yesterday’s Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee hearing on SB 418. The Committee met late into the night with Senators raising significant concerns with the bill and its lack of protections.

The message from proponents, led by national group Compassion & Choices, was that any protections in the law would stall a patient’s ability to get a lethal prescription from their physician. And questions surrounding these increased protections continuously baffled witnesses. There is nothing in this bill that would require a mental health screening, or ensure a physician is present at the time the lethal dose is taken. Proponents’ response to these concerns is that the Maryland healthcare system can’t support these types of mandates.  This is a weak excuse when it comes to protecting our most vulnerable populations who will be at risk if this bill is passed.

Margaret Dore published in the Baltimore Sun

The letter below, published in the Baltimore Sun, describes the positive statistical correlation between legalizing physician-assisted suicide and the significant increase in other "regular" suicides in Oregon.  This is at great financial cost to that state. 

For more detail and links to supporting documentation, please see: Letter from Margaret Dore to Members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, March 4, 2014, titled:  "The High Financial Cost of (Regular) Suicide."

* * *

The published letter:  Margaret Dore," Legalizing assisted suicide is a bad idea."

Alexa Fraser's recent commentary promotes the idea of legalizing physician-assisted suicide. . . .

The term "physician-assisted suicide" means that a physician provides the means or information to enable a patient to perform a life-ending act, such as through a lethal prescription.

The premise of Ms. Fraser's commentary is that legalization of physician-assisted suicide will eliminate other types of suicides, such as those resulting from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

This premise is not, however, supported by statistics from Oregon, which is the only state in which physician-assisted suicide has been legal long enough to have valid statistics over time.

The Oregon statistics support the conclusion that, if anything, "ordinary" suicides will actually increase if physician-assisted suicide were legalized in Maryland.

What results from assisted suicide laws

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/what-results-from-assisted-suicide-laws/2014/07/11/2704d612-0768-11e4-9ae6-0519a2bd5dfa_story.html

July 11 at 5:42 PM

As a former three-term state representative in New Hampshire, I was alarmed to see that Maryland is being urged to adopt an assisted-suicide law similar to those in Oregon and Washington state [" Controlling the end of life, Local Opinions, July 6].

Four months ago, the New Hampshire House rejected such a law by a 219 to 66 vote. Many representatives in the Democratic-controlled House initially thought they were for the bill but became uncomfortable when they studied the issue further.

Contrary to promoting "choice" for older people, assisted-suicide laws are a prescription for abuse. They empower heirs and others to pressure and abuse older people to cut short their lives, especially when they have money. No assisted-suicide bill could correct this huge problem.

Nancy Elliott, Merrimack, N.H.

Assisted Suicide Law Would Endanger Patients

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/assisted-suicide-law-would-endanger-patients/2014/07/08/bafac898-0607-11e4-a7ef-9ed5d8510e81_story.html

July 8 at 7:21 PM

Regarding Catherine Weber’s July 6 Local Opinions commentary, “Controlling the end of life”:

I am a doctor in Oregon, where assisted suicide is legal. I was exposed to the assisted suicide issue in 1982 shortly before my first wife died of cancer. We had just visited her doctor. As we were leaving, he suggested that she overdose herself on medication. I still remember the look of horror on her face. She said, “Ken, he wants me to kill myself.”

Our assisted-suicide law was passed in 1997. In 2000, one of my patients was adamant that she would use our law. Over three or four visits, I stalled her and ultimately persuaded her to be treated instead. Nearly 14 years later, she is thrilled to be alive.

The combination of assisted-suicide legalization and prioritized medical care based on prognosis has created a danger for my patients on the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid). Helpful treatments are often not covered but the plan will cover the patient’s suicide.

Protect your health care. Please tell your legislators and other public officials to say “no” to assisted suicide.

Kenneth Stevens, Sherwood, Ore.

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