The old Hemlock Society USA renamed “Compassion and Choices” has gained surprising vigor with recent approval of assisted suicide in California, Colorado, and District of Columbia.
The D.C. Council on Tuesday gave final approval to legislation that would allow physicians to prescribe fatal drugs to terminally ill residents in the city, making the District the seventh jurisdiction nationwide to allow the practice. “The fact that we have now gotten three states with diverse populations across the country, from the West Coast to the Midwest to the East Coast, is a huge sign of momentum and support for the issue across political, racial and demographic grounds,” said Sean Crowley, a Compassion and Choices spokesman. Full Article
Critics say the notion of doctors hastening death for terminally ill patients runs counter to religious teachings about the sanctity of life. “I watch hundreds of people come and go at the oncologist’s office,” said Wandix, who has undergone chemotherapy. “They are not trying to give up. They want to live. We believe in God. That’s not even a question. I’m fighting for my life, and my God is going to show me how.” Full Article
What seriously ill – and often depressed — patients need is authentic support, including doctors fully committed to their welfare and pain management as they enter their final days. Patients need our assurance that they are not a burden — that it is a privilege to care for them as we ourselves hope to be cared for one day. A compassionate society devotes more attention, not less, to members facing the most vulnerable times in their lives. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities