Despite heavy lobbying by “right to die” groups, Massachusetts and Connecticut have decided not to pursue assisted suicide legislation.
The Washington Free Beacon reports:
Two of the most liberal states in the country killed off legislation that would have legalized assisted suicide.Lawmakers in Massachusetts and Connecticut have shelved bills that would have allowed doctors to prescribe lethal medication to patients with terminal diagnoses. Activists, who prefer the term medical aid in dying, were hopeful that heavily Democratic majorities in both states would pass the bill, and Massachusetts, in particular, seemed receptive to assisted suicide after the state’s top medical association withdrew its opposition to the practice and pledged neutrality on the bill.The Massachusetts Medical Society’s stance, however, inspired backlash from doctors across the state. Former society president Dr. Tom Sullivan joined physicians across the state in February to lobby lawmakers against legalization. He told the Washington Free Beacon he was “overjoyed” when he learned that lawmakers would table the bill.. . . . Dr. Sullivan, the former Massachusetts Medical Society president, said he is prepared to wage the battle again and plans on visiting the Rhode Island statehouse in the coming weeks as it weighs legalization. He said more must be done to ensure patients have access to palliative care and hospice care to ease suffering in a person’s final months.”I know this is going to be a never-ending battle,” Sullivan said. “This isn’t just a medical issue it’s a moral, cultural, and social issue … We know this is another alarm call that we need to do more for people who are suffering and depressed that has led them to desire to end their own lives.”
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY