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| Rep. Brad Tschida |
Rolling Back the Suicide Epidemic:
Why are Physician-Assisted Suicide
Why are Physician-Assisted Suicide
and Euthanasia Bad News for Montana?
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| Senator Jennifer Fielder |
- Brad
Tschida, Montana State Representative, a legislative leader in the fight to
prevent suicide.
- Jennifer
Fielder, Montana State Senator, a legislative leader in the fight to prevent suicide.
- Philip
Tummarello, retired Sgt. Inspector of the San Francisco Police Department, who implemented and
supervised the San Francisco Elder Abuse Task Force.
- Margaret
Dore, a
lawyer in Washington State where assisted suicide and euthanasia are
legal, and president of Choice is an Illusion, a nonprofit corporation.
Where: St.
Anthony Catholic Church Social Center, 217 Tremont Street, Missoula, MT
Cost: free will donation.
More info: This
event is open to all interested persons.
There will be an hour long formal presentation, with a half hour
question/answer period and light refreshments to follow.
Problems with
legal assisted suicide: (1) new paths
of elder abuse, e.g., in the inheritance setting; (2) steerage to suicide by
health care systems; (3) trauma to
patients and family members; (4) sending the wrong message to young people, that
suicide is a legitimate solution to life's problems; and (5) the encouragement of
people with years to live, to throw away their lives.
Why now: In 2009, the Montana State Supreme
Court issued the "Baxter" decision, which has created great confusion
and allowed proponents to falsely claim that assisted suicide is legal. There are reports of assisted suicide (and euthanasia)
in Montana healthcare settings.
Last session,
Representative Tschida introduced a bill to overturn Baxter, which nearly
got through the House. Our goal is to inspire you to contact your legislators, your candidates for the legislature, governor and lieutenant governor, to overturn Baxter. This will protect you, your friends and your
family.
Senator Fielder is the author of "Beware of Vultures," discussing the motives of the suicide advocacy group, Compassion & Choices, formerly known as the Hemlock Society.
Call Mike O'Lear (406-360-1995)
or email m.olear@mso.umt.edu
with any questions.
Disclaimer: No endorsement of any political candidate is implied.
References:
Disclaimer: No endorsement of any political candidate is implied.
References:
- State Senator Jim Shockley & Margaret Dore, "No, Physician-Assisted Suicide is not Legal in Montana: It's a recipe for elder abuse and more." The Montana Lawyer, November 2011
- Theresa Schrempp, "'Compassion & Choices' is a Successor to the Hemlock Society," Helena Independent Record, 2012;
- Margaret K. Dore, "'Death with Dignity': What Do We Advise Our Clients?,"King County Bar Association, Bar Bulletin, May 2009; and
- Nina Shapiro, "Terminal Uncertainty," Washington's new "Death with Dignity" law allows doctors to help people commit suicide - once they've determined that the patient has only six months to live. But what if they're wrong? The Seattle Weekly, January 14, 2009.