Bill to Legalize Assisted Suicide Unveiled in Vermont

Montpelier, VT (LifeNews.com) -- Advocates of assisted suicide in Vermont have introduced a bill there to legalize the deadly practice. The legislation is based on an Oregon law that made the western state the first in the nation to allow doctors to assist patients in killing themselves.

In a speech last week to an Episcopal church congregation, state Sen. Dick McCormack, the sponsor, claimed the bill would provide adequate safeguards to ensure that assisted suicide isn't abused.

McCormack, also the statewide coordinator for End of Life Choices, former the Hemlock Society, said the bill would allow patients who are expected to die within six months to request drugs to take their life.

The legislation has prompted some doctors in the state to form a new organization dedicated to defeating it.

Vermont Alliance for Ethical Healthcare has been formed in an attempt to prevent assisted suicide from becoming legal. The group sponsored a March luncheon for legislators to educate them about the dangers of assisted suicide.

"This legislation is not needed and it's dangerous," Dr. Robert Orr, the group's president, told roughly 60 lawmakers.

Orr, who formed the group with 16 other doctors, said Vermont has gained a reputation as a pioneer in palliative and hospice care, which he said provides patients with comfort in the dying process rather than hastening their death. And unlike most other states, Vermont offers these services in every community, he said.

"I cannot emphasize too strongly that if this bill passes, it's a sea change," he said, raising concerns that the premise of the bill flies in the face of the longstanding tradition of physician as a healer.

The Vermont Right to Life Committee and the Catholic Diocese of Burlington have already indicated they will lobby against it.

In July, pro-life groups were outraged when the president of the Vermont Medical Society received only a slap on the wrist for euthanizing a patient. The doctors group has announced it will hold a series of forums in September allowing proponents and opponents of the bill to make their case.

Howard Dean, the former Governor and a presidential candidate, recently indicated he supports assisted suicide.

Well you are way ahead of me. I am still trying to think about how to put together a presentation. There are 14 Orthodox churches here and I will feel at home practising on them. :-) After that I will hopefully have enough practise to go out and face the rest of the world.

You are doing the great thing, jumping in. Please be sure to let me know how it goes. I want to hear whatever you have to share.

Have you worked in healthcare at all?

I used to be a massage therapist for years, until arthritis kicked in. I still would give it a try and work on ladies and children, but Oregon has a very restrictive massage licensing board and they don't count my two schools and years of experience. I am currently studying Ayurveda (kind oc comprehensive Indian health system) and aromatherapy. NOt your mainstream medical stuff, but very useful for home use, and in caring for sick and eldery. I used massage and aromatherapy on my bedridden mother daily.
Your plan sounds very good - I'm not very organized, esp right now so being able to talk with people one on one may best for me at this time. I could give presentations (God willing) at some point because I am not (very) afraid of speaking to groups - have done it before.
At the crisis preg. center, they are willing to train lay counsellors so I am going to talk to someone about that this morning.
Are you Orthodox, that's why you feel comfortable starting with them? I am very interesting in learning about whatever you put together. The culture of death is so horrible, so destructive - even people like - no higher education, no degrees, not a pillar of the community - can do something.

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