Thank you for your recent story, “Sen. Hashmi files medically assisted death bill,” Jan. 10. We’ve all known people whose final days were marked by pain and distress. We shouldn’t be complacent about these things, but hastening death is not the answer. We do not need a self-killing-with-medications law in Virginia. Not that state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi or other advocates use that wording. The older phrase “physician-assisted suicide” was accurate, but confused legal authorities and life insurance companies. Now euphemisms like “medical assistance in dying” and “death with dignity” are often used instead. “Medical assistance in dying” sounds a lot like hospice or palliative care — but isn’t. “Death with dignity” implies that only a self-controlled death is compatible with living with dignity. Not true. We don’t need this bill to become law in Virginia. Instead we need more research, clinical innovation, education and advocacy to increase the quality of life for people with life-limiting diseases, and better reimbursement for palliative care providers.
Brian Cassel.
Bon Air
Other Posts
In Opposition to The Introduction and Hearings on Legislation to Legalize Physician Assisted Suicide in Virginia
For many Virginians Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS) would be neither compassionate nor a choice. For persons living with disabilities, senior citizens and people of color who too often do not receive equal access to care, legalizing PAS will raise their risks in our health care system.
Bill Fertig: Oppose Assisted Suicide Legislation in Virginia
The choice of suicide over life, regardless of the difficulties, is always tragic. Often, victims do not consider or tend to undervalue the positive influence that their lives can have on others. At onetime, I personally considered ending it all. – By: Bill Fertig