Editorial

Assisted Suicide’s Real Issues

Posted

A measure signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown earlier this month made California the fifth state—and by far the largest—to allow physicians to prescribe drugs to end the lives of terminally ill patients.

The law in California will take effect 90 days after the special legislative session in which it was approved adjourns. The largest state in the union joins Washington, Montana, Vermont and Oregon, the latter of which became the first to pass legislation supporting physician-assisted suicide in 1997.

A handful of states passing such legislation in a nearly two-decade period may not sound like much, but California’s passage should be especially concerning, not only because of the West Coast state’s sheer size, at roughly 39 million people, but also for the potential influence it holds in the debate on this subject.

The California Catholic Conference, representing the state’s bishops in matters of public policy, was right to weigh in with a statement that the new law was not compassionate and does not promote the common good. “As Catholic bishops in California, we join hands with the disability rights groups, physicians, other health care professionals and advocates for the elderly in opposing physician-assisted suicide as the wrong way to advance the human dignity for those facing a terminal illness.”

The bishops rightfully cited a broad coalition of groups and individuals who would be affected by such a measure. Such a consortium is important for its message and for the influence it wields. People who support the God-given dignity of each person to live from conception until natural death should be banding together and forming coalitions, as they are, to fight against very organized and well-funded efforts, including those by Compassion and Choices and others, that stand counter to their beliefs.

California isn’t the only state where such legislation has been raised. According to a recent New York Times article, 24 states, plus the District of Columbia, are considering bills this year to allow physicians to allow terminally ill patients to end their lives.

New York is one of those states. In fact, two bills were introduced in the most recent legislative session that ended in June, and will be carried over into the one that commences in January. Many key politicians have not articulated a firm position on the subject of physician-assisted suicide.

With California’s passage of physician-assisted suicide legislation into law, it behooves those who are standing against such policy to be as effective as possible in advocating their position. Supporters of physician-assisted suicide would like nothing better than to score another big victory in the Empire State. We need only look back as far as 2011, when same-sex marriage advocates advanced their cause exponentially with a legislative win here.

It is the least and most vulnerable among us who have the most to lose in terms of physician-assisted suicide. Contrary to the most cited argument for physician-assisted suicide, that terminally ill patients experience intolerable and unremitting pain, the truth gives lie to that claim. Advances in palliative care, often delivered in tranquil hospice settings, mean that pain does not have the last word. It is loss of autonomy and being a burden to family members that most consume the thoughts of many terminally ill people, especially those who are poor, alone, uneducated or otherwise vulnerable.

The Church in New York is not sitting on the sidelines. Dioceses, working along with the state Catholic Conference, are building coalitions with other like-minded people and educating Catholics and others on the issues. One noteworthy effort, likely to be replicated elsewhere in the state, is a training session for Catholics, “Help Stop Assisted Suicide,” to be offered at St. Pius X Church in Loudonville, just outside Albany (story on Page 12). The Nov. 7 conference will train participants to effectively oppose legislation to legalize assisted suicide, and educate them on the best medical, legal and ethical arguments against the practice.

If you would like to educate yourself on the issues, please think about participating. It’s an especially good activity to consider during Respect Life Month in October.