http://wtop.com/maryland/2016/03/maryland-right-to-die-measure-could-have-committee-vote/
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A Maryland senator has withdrawn a measure to
allow terminally ill residents to legally end their lives with drugs
prescribed by a doctor.
[The bill, SB 418, would have legalized assisted suicide and euthanasia as those terms are traditionally defined]*
Sen. Ron Young, a Frederick County Democrat, said he withdrew the
bill Thursday, when it became clear the measure did not have the votes
in committee....
The
bill stalled last year, but supporters hoped adding some safeguards
would help.
Young says he doubts he will try again next year, because he says
committee opponents are “just totally inflexible on it.” Opponents cited
concerns that vulnerable people like the developmentally disabled could
be pressured to end their lives.
* See memo, pp. 1, 8-10; click here for the appendix.
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Breaking News: Nebraska Bill Voted Down!
A Nebraska Senator just wrote me:
Dear Ms. Dore,
Thank you for sharing your concerns with LB1056. The Judiciary Committee voted against letting this bill out of committee this afternoon.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Dore Opposition to Nebraska Bill Seeking to Legalize Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia
Dear Senator Seiler and Members of the Judiciary Committee,
The Introducer's Statement of Intent says that the bill is intended for dying people "when death is certain and imminent." This is not true. The bill, in fact, applies to people with years, even decades, to live. Please see the memo at this link: https://choiceisanillusion.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/nebraska-partial-memo-years-to-live.pdf
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you.
Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA
Law Offices of Margaret K. Dore, P.S.
Choice is an Illusion, a nonprofit corporation
www.margaretdore.com
www.choiceillusion.org
1001 4th Avenue, Suite 4400
Seattle, WA 98154
The Introducer's Statement of Intent says that the bill is intended for dying people "when death is certain and imminent." This is not true. The bill, in fact, applies to people with years, even decades, to live. Please see the memo at this link: https://choiceisanillusion.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/nebraska-partial-memo-years-to-live.pdf
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you.
Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA
Law Offices of Margaret K. Dore, P.S.
Choice is an Illusion, a nonprofit corporation
www.margaretdore.com
www.choiceillusion.org
1001 4th Avenue, Suite 4400
Seattle, WA 98154
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Don't pretend it's not assisted suicide - at least
 |
| Editorial Board: The bill "is a huge jump ... setting up a system whose abuse could literally mean murder." |
Deceptive names for legislation are nothing new, but this takes the cake.
Introduced by Democrat Amy Paulin in the Assembly and Republican John Bonacic in the state Senate, the bill would make it easier for terminal New York patients to get doctors to give them fatal doses of drugs.
They call it an “aid in dying” bill, but “Assisted Suicide Enhancement Act” is more to the point.
Or “The Streamlining Euthanasia Act.”
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Colorado Assisted Suicide Bills Are a Recipe for Elder Abuse
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dore: "Even if you like the concept of assisted suicide and euthanasia, the proposed Colorado bills have it all wrong."
Contact: Margaret Dore (206) 697-1217
Denver, CO -- Attorney Margaret Dore, president of Choice is an Illusion, which has fought assisted suicide legalization efforts in many states and now Colorado, made the following statement in connection with legislative hearings being held today and tomorrow on bills seeking to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia in that state.
"The bills, SB 16-025 and HB 16-1054, seek to legalize physician-assisted suicide, assisted suicide and euthanasia as those terms are traditionally defined," said Dore. "The bills are described as 'aid in dying,' but their reach is not limited to dying people. 'Eligible' persons may have years, even decades, to live."
Dore said, "The bills are a recipe for elder abuse. The patient's heir, who will financially benefit from the patient's death, is allowed to actively participate in signing the patient up for the lethal dose. There is no oversight over administration." Dore elaborated, "No doctor, not even a witness, is required to be present at the death. Even if the patient struggled, who would know? The bills create the perfect crime."
"It gets worse," said Dore. "The bills require the death certificate to be falsified to reflect a death by a terminal illness. The significance is a loss of transparency as to the true cause of death and an inability to prosecute in the case of an outright murder for the money; the death, as a matter of law is a terminal illness."
The Colorado bills seek to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia for people who are "terminal," which is defined as a doctor's prediction of less than six months to live. In real life, such persons can have years, even decades, to live.
"Doctors can be wrong about life expectancy, sometimes way wrong," Dore said. "This is due to actual mistakes: They evaluated another patient's test results. More typically, however, doctors are wrong because predicting life expectancy is not an exact science. A few years ago, I was met at the airport by a man who at age 18 had been diagnosed with ALS and given 3 to 5 years to live, at which time he was predicted to die by paralysis. The diagnosis had been confirmed by the Mayo Clinic. When he met me at the airport, he was 74 years old. The disease progression had stopped on its own."
"If the Colorado bills become law, there will be new lethal paths of elder abuse, which will be legally sanctioned and hidden from view," said Dore. "People with years, even decades to live, will be encouraged to throw away their lives. Even if you like the concept of assisted suicide and euthanasia, the proposed Colorado bills have it all wrong."
For back up documentation, please see below:.
1. Memo from Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA, to the Colorado Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee and to the Colorado House Judiciary Committee, January 30, 2016, available here: https://choiceisanillusion.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/colorado-memo-01-30-16.pdf and here:
https://choiceisanillusion.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/colorado-memo-attachment_001.pdf
2. Margaret K. Dore, "'Death with Dignity': What Do We Advise Our Clients?," King County Bar Association, Bar Bulletin, May 2009,https://www.kcba.org/newsevents/barbulletin/BView.aspx?Month=05&Year=2009&AID=article5.htm
3. 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?" Seattle Weekly, 01/14/09, available at https://choiceisanillusion.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/terminal-uncertainty-w-o-ad.pdf
Dore: "Even if you like the concept of assisted suicide and euthanasia, the proposed Colorado bills have it all wrong."
Contact: Margaret Dore (206) 697-1217
Denver, CO -- Attorney Margaret Dore, president of Choice is an Illusion, which has fought assisted suicide legalization efforts in many states and now Colorado, made the following statement in connection with legislative hearings being held today and tomorrow on bills seeking to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia in that state.
"The bills, SB 16-025 and HB 16-1054, seek to legalize physician-assisted suicide, assisted suicide and euthanasia as those terms are traditionally defined," said Dore. "The bills are described as 'aid in dying,' but their reach is not limited to dying people. 'Eligible' persons may have years, even decades, to live."
Dore said, "The bills are a recipe for elder abuse. The patient's heir, who will financially benefit from the patient's death, is allowed to actively participate in signing the patient up for the lethal dose. There is no oversight over administration." Dore elaborated, "No doctor, not even a witness, is required to be present at the death. Even if the patient struggled, who would know? The bills create the perfect crime."
"It gets worse," said Dore. "The bills require the death certificate to be falsified to reflect a death by a terminal illness. The significance is a loss of transparency as to the true cause of death and an inability to prosecute in the case of an outright murder for the money; the death, as a matter of law is a terminal illness."
The Colorado bills seek to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia for people who are "terminal," which is defined as a doctor's prediction of less than six months to live. In real life, such persons can have years, even decades, to live.
"Doctors can be wrong about life expectancy, sometimes way wrong," Dore said. "This is due to actual mistakes: They evaluated another patient's test results. More typically, however, doctors are wrong because predicting life expectancy is not an exact science. A few years ago, I was met at the airport by a man who at age 18 had been diagnosed with ALS and given 3 to 5 years to live, at which time he was predicted to die by paralysis. The diagnosis had been confirmed by the Mayo Clinic. When he met me at the airport, he was 74 years old. The disease progression had stopped on its own."
"If the Colorado bills become law, there will be new lethal paths of elder abuse, which will be legally sanctioned and hidden from view," said Dore. "People with years, even decades to live, will be encouraged to throw away their lives. Even if you like the concept of assisted suicide and euthanasia, the proposed Colorado bills have it all wrong."
For back up documentation, please see below:.
1. Memo from Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA, to the Colorado Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee and to the Colorado House Judiciary Committee, January 30, 2016, available here: https://choiceisanillusion.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/colorado-memo-01-30-16.pdf and here:
https://choiceisanillusion.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/colorado-memo-attachment_001.pdf
2. Margaret K. Dore, "'Death with Dignity': What Do We Advise Our Clients?," King County Bar Association, Bar Bulletin, May 2009,https://www.kcba.org/newsevents/barbulletin/BView.aspx?Month=05&Year=2009&AID=article5.htm
3. 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?" Seattle Weekly, 01/14/09, available at https://choiceisanillusion.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/terminal-uncertainty-w-o-ad.pdf
-00-
Friday, January 22, 2016
Assisted-suicide laws are a prescription for abuse
http://altamontenterprise.com/01212016/assisted-suicide-laws-are-prescription-abuse
To the Editor:
I was glad to see the letter by Oregon doctor Kenneth Stevens, describing how legalizing assisted suicide in Oregon has led to steerage to suicide by the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid). ("No assisted suicide," Jan. 7, 2016). I write to highlight another problem with legalization -- elder abuse.
I am a former three-term state representative in New Hampshire. In 2014, the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted down a similar law. The vote was an overwhelming 3-to-1 defeat, 219 to 66.
At that time, the House of Representatives was controlled by the Democrats. Many representatives who initially thought that they were for the bill, became uncomfortable when they studied it further.
Contrary to promoting "choice" for older people, assisted-suicide laws are a prescription for abuse. They empower heirs and other predators to pressure and abuse older people to cut short their lives.
This is especially an issue when the older person has money. There is no assisted suicide bill that you can write to correct this huge problem. Don't be fooled.
Nancy Elliott
Merrimack, New Hampshire
Post date: January 21, 2016
To the Editor:
I was glad to see the letter by Oregon doctor Kenneth Stevens, describing how legalizing assisted suicide in Oregon has led to steerage to suicide by the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid). ("No assisted suicide," Jan. 7, 2016). I write to highlight another problem with legalization -- elder abuse.
I am a former three-term state representative in New Hampshire. In 2014, the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted down a similar law. The vote was an overwhelming 3-to-1 defeat, 219 to 66.
At that time, the House of Representatives was controlled by the Democrats. Many representatives who initially thought that they were for the bill, became uncomfortable when they studied it further.
Contrary to promoting "choice" for older people, assisted-suicide laws are a prescription for abuse. They empower heirs and other predators to pressure and abuse older people to cut short their lives.
This is especially an issue when the older person has money. There is no assisted suicide bill that you can write to correct this huge problem. Don't be fooled.
Nancy Elliott
Merrimack, New Hampshire
Post date: January 21, 2016
Saturday, January 16, 2016
New York State Legal/Policy Analysis
Below, please find a legal/policy analysis by attorney Margaret Dore opposing bills seeking to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia in New York State. A hard copy can be viewed by clicking here; the appendix can be viewed by clicking here. Please find a web version below.
I. INTRODUCTION
I am an attorney in Washington State where assisted suicide is legal.[1] Our law is based on a similar law in Oregon. Both laws are similar to the proposed New York State bills, which seek to legalize physician-assisted suicide, assisted suicide and euthanasia as those terms are traditionally defined.[2]
The proposed bills are described as “aid in dying,” but their reach is not limited to dying people. “Eligible” persons may have years, even decades, to live. The bills are a recipe for elder abuse. There are other problems.
I agree with proponents that assuring patient choice and control is paramount. The bills, however, are stacked against the patient. This is due to their actual language. Some of the words used do not have their normal meanings. I urge you to read the definitions and other provisions carefully. Don’t be fooled; please reject this measure.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
New York State Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia Bills Are a Recipe for Elder Abuse
TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dore: "Even if you like the concept of assisted suicide and euthanasia, the proposed New York bills have it all wrong.”
Contact: Margaret Dore (206) 697-1217
Albany, NY -- Attorney Margaret Dore, president of Choice is an Illusion, which has fought assisted suicide legalization efforts in many states and now New York State, made the following statement in connection with a legislative lobby day for proposed bills, which seek to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
"There are bills pending before the New York State Legislature, which seek to legalize physician-assisted suicide, assisted suicide and euthanasia as those terms are traditionally defined," said Dore. "The bills are described as 'aid in dying,' but their reach is not limited to dying people. 'Eligible' persons may have years, even decades, to live."
Dore said, "The bills are a recipe for elder abuse. The patient's heir, who will financially benefit from the patient's death, is allowed to actively participate in signing the patient up for the lethal dose. There is no oversight over administration." Dore elaborated, "No doctor, not even a witness, is required to be present at the death. Even if the patient struggled, who would know? The bills create the perfect crime."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dore: "Even if you like the concept of assisted suicide and euthanasia, the proposed New York bills have it all wrong.”
Contact: Margaret Dore (206) 697-1217
Albany, NY -- Attorney Margaret Dore, president of Choice is an Illusion, which has fought assisted suicide legalization efforts in many states and now New York State, made the following statement in connection with a legislative lobby day for proposed bills, which seek to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
"There are bills pending before the New York State Legislature, which seek to legalize physician-assisted suicide, assisted suicide and euthanasia as those terms are traditionally defined," said Dore. "The bills are described as 'aid in dying,' but their reach is not limited to dying people. 'Eligible' persons may have years, even decades, to live."
Dore said, "The bills are a recipe for elder abuse. The patient's heir, who will financially benefit from the patient's death, is allowed to actively participate in signing the patient up for the lethal dose. There is no oversight over administration." Dore elaborated, "No doctor, not even a witness, is required to be present at the death. Even if the patient struggled, who would know? The bills create the perfect crime."
Monday, January 11, 2016
Dore Legal and Policy Analysis of New York State Bills
Today, attorney Margaret Dore released a legal and policy analysis opposing bills seeking to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia in New York State, addressed to members of the Health Committees of the New York State Legislature. Her analysis can be viewed by clicking here; back up documentation can be viewed by clicking here. Please find the introduction below.
INTRODUCTION
I am an attorney in Washington State where assisted suicide is legal. Our law is based on a similar law in Oregon. Both laws are similar to the proposed New York State bills, which seek to legalize physician-assisted suicide, assisted suicide and euthanasia as those terms are traditionally defined.
The proposed bills are described as “aid in dying,” but their reach is not limited to dying people. “Eligible” persons may have years, even decades, to live; the bills are a recipe for elder abuse. There are other problems.
I agree with proponents that assuring patient choice and control is paramount. The bills, however, are stacked against the patient. This is due to their actual language. Some of the words used do not have their normal meanings. I urge you to read the definitions and other provisions carefully.
Don’t be fooled . . . .
INTRODUCTION
I am an attorney in Washington State where assisted suicide is legal. Our law is based on a similar law in Oregon. Both laws are similar to the proposed New York State bills, which seek to legalize physician-assisted suicide, assisted suicide and euthanasia as those terms are traditionally defined.
The proposed bills are described as “aid in dying,” but their reach is not limited to dying people. “Eligible” persons may have years, even decades, to live; the bills are a recipe for elder abuse. There are other problems.
I agree with proponents that assuring patient choice and control is paramount. The bills, however, are stacked against the patient. This is due to their actual language. Some of the words used do not have their normal meanings. I urge you to read the definitions and other provisions carefully.
Don’t be fooled . . . .
Thursday, December 31, 2015
MP Albrecht condemns U.S. court ruling on teen’s suicide
http://www.therecord.com/news-story/6213725-mp-albrecht-condemns-u-s-court-ruling-on-teen-s-suicide/
Waterloo Region Record
 |
| Nadia Kajouji embraced by her father |
KITCHENER — Local MP Harold Albrecht
criticized a U.S. court ruling that overturned the conviction of a man
charged with encouraging a Brampton teen to take her own life.
William Melchert-Dinkel, a former nurse from
Minnesota, was convicted in 2014 of attempting to assist the suicide of
18-year-old Nadia Kajouji, who died after jumping into the Rideau River
in Ottawa in 2008.
The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled Monday
there wasn't enough evidence to uphold the conviction in the Carleton
University student's death.
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Quick Facts About Assisted Suicide
By Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA
For a pdf version, please click here
1. Assisted Suicide
Assisted suicide means that someone provides the means and/or information for another person to commit suicide. When a physician is involved, the practice is physician-assisted suicide.
2. The Oregon and Washington Laws
In Oregon, physician-assisted suicide was legalized in 1997 via a ballot measure. In Washington State, a similar law was passed by another ballot measure in 2008 and went into effect in 2009.
3. Problems With Legalization
The Oregon and Washington laws are a recipe for elder abuse and encourage people with years to live to throw away their lives. In Oregon, there are documented cases of the Oregon Heath Plan (Medicaid) steering patients to physician-assisted suicide via coverage incentives. Oregon’s conventional suicide rate has increased with legalization of assisted suicide, which is consistent with a suicide contagion. Patients and families are traumatized.
The Oregon and Washington laws require the death certificate to be falsified to reflect a natural death via a terminal disease, as opposed to the actual cause of death, a lethal dose. The significance is a lack of transparency and an inability to take legal action against overreaching parties.
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