http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/politics/2015/03/12/bill-makes-physician-assisted-suicide-crime/70228080/
HELENA – The
Montana House of Representatives endorsed a bill by one vote Thursday
that would make it illegal for doctors to prescribe life-ending
medication to terminally ill patients who ask for it.
The House
endorsed the bill 51-49 on second reading. If it passes third reading,
the measure will head to the Senate for consideration.
“We do talk
in this chamber about personal liberty, but with liberty comes with
responsibility,” bill sponsor Rep. Jerry Bennett, R-Libby, said.
“Suicide is a contagion. This creates a difficult situation for a state
that has one of the highest suicide rates in the nation.”
Republican Rep. Keith Regier of Kalispell added that House Bill 477 in his estimation is a suicide-prevention bill.
Under
the measure, physician-assisted suicide would become a crime,
punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a $50,000 fine, or both.
Showing posts with label suicide prevention. Show all posts
Showing posts with label suicide prevention. Show all posts
Friday, March 13, 2015
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Legal assisted suicide Orwellian and discriminatory
http://www.ravallirepublic.com/news/opinion/mailbag/article_10cd3eb4-39cb-11e2-b954-0019bb2963f4.html?print=true&cid=print
November 28, 2012
Dear Editor:
I am confused by the ongoing dispute about whether we should legalize assisted suicide in Montana. I am a medical doctor whose patients include incarcerated persons. Law enforcement, jails and prisons are mandated to monitor for signs of depression and suicidal ideation, and to identify, intervene and/or initiate treatment. We are told that our failure to do so would be a significant breach of an inmate's civil rights. Yet according to proponents of assisted suicide, patients also have a right to receive a doctor's assistance with the suicide. This makes no sense.
On the one hand, you have a group of people (prisoners) who suffer from situational depression due to their circumstances. Suicide attempts in this population are not rare. On the other hand, you have a group of people (persons diagnosed with a terminal diagnosis) who suffer from situational depression due to their circumstances. Why is one group entitled to protection and the other is not? Is it because with the second group, you call it "aid in dying" because people are dying anyway? They may not be dying anyway. Doctors diagnoses can be wrong. I have seen patients in my own practice live longer than expected. What about an older inmate? Would he be entitled to protection or a lethal dose? This all strikes me as very Orwellian and also discriminatory to people labeled terminal. I thought freedom from discrimination was a constitutional right.
I have seen suicidal people get better and rebuild lives that looked pretty grim. I do not agree that doctors or anyone else should be steering people to suicide in Montana. I hope that our legislature will clarify once and for all that assisted suicide is not legal in Montana.
Carley C. Robertson, Havre
November 28, 2012
Dear Editor:
I am confused by the ongoing dispute about whether we should legalize assisted suicide in Montana. I am a medical doctor whose patients include incarcerated persons. Law enforcement, jails and prisons are mandated to monitor for signs of depression and suicidal ideation, and to identify, intervene and/or initiate treatment. We are told that our failure to do so would be a significant breach of an inmate's civil rights. Yet according to proponents of assisted suicide, patients also have a right to receive a doctor's assistance with the suicide. This makes no sense.
On the one hand, you have a group of people (prisoners) who suffer from situational depression due to their circumstances. Suicide attempts in this population are not rare. On the other hand, you have a group of people (persons diagnosed with a terminal diagnosis) who suffer from situational depression due to their circumstances. Why is one group entitled to protection and the other is not? Is it because with the second group, you call it "aid in dying" because people are dying anyway? They may not be dying anyway. Doctors diagnoses can be wrong. I have seen patients in my own practice live longer than expected. What about an older inmate? Would he be entitled to protection or a lethal dose? This all strikes me as very Orwellian and also discriminatory to people labeled terminal. I thought freedom from discrimination was a constitutional right.
I have seen suicidal people get better and rebuild lives that looked pretty grim. I do not agree that doctors or anyone else should be steering people to suicide in Montana. I hope that our legislature will clarify once and for all that assisted suicide is not legal in Montana.
Carley C. Robertson, Havre
Saturday, August 25, 2012
To the Board: "Why do you think Montana has such a high rate of suicide?"
To: DLI BSD Medical Examiners
Subject: Against Assisted suicide
We agree with Montanans Against Assisted Suicide. Please vacate statement No. 20. Senator Blewitt and Dr Speckert admit it is illegal, so how can the Board make it legal? This puts everyone at risk especially the elderly and special needs people. Why do you think Montana has such a high rate of suicide? Our young people see how human beings are not regarded with real honor and respect and figure if life gets hard, suicide is an option. This will also add to elder abuse.
Sincerely Jerry and Virginia Geier
Subject: Against Assisted suicide
We agree with Montanans Against Assisted Suicide. Please vacate statement No. 20. Senator Blewitt and Dr Speckert admit it is illegal, so how can the Board make it legal? This puts everyone at risk especially the elderly and special needs people. Why do you think Montana has such a high rate of suicide? Our young people see how human beings are not regarded with real honor and respect and figure if life gets hard, suicide is an option. This will also add to elder abuse.
Sincerely Jerry and Virginia Geier
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