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
Tom Steffens: Legalizing Assisted Suicide Risks Harm to Veterans
I see this same principle alive across our commonwealth as civil society and our public servants work tirelessly to support our 700,000 veterans every day. Despite that extraordinary effort, we all know that the men and women who valiantly served our country are at a higher risk for suicide.
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