MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) -- As so often happens on difficult, emotional debates, lawmakers and observers could tell at a glance Friday where visitors to the Statehouse stood on what some of them described as "death with dignity" and others called "physician-assisted suicide."
Those supporting an initiative that would allow patients with terminal illnesses to end their lives with a prescription wore green stickers declaring: "Listen to the Patient." Opponents, who view the proposal as nothing more than state-sanctioned suicide, donned yellow stickers making their view crystal clear: "I Oppose Physician-Assisted Suicide."
The House Human Services Committee opened its consideration of the bill Friday with limited testimony, hearing only from two experts on opposite sides of the issue. Leading the supporters was Barbara Roberts, who was governor of Oregon when her state became the first and only one in the country to adopt a death-with-dignity law. She praised Vermont lawmakers for considering becoming the second, arguing that such a law would be little used, but a humane way for terminally ill people to determine how their own lives will end.
"They want to have self control at the end of their life," she said.
Dr. Robert Orr, a Vermont physician who has lobbied around the country against such laws, said he and the opponents he represented believe there are other options for people who are dying.
"If a patient wants to hasten death, he or she merely needs to stop eating and drinking," Orr said.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/V/VT_XGR_ASSISTED_SUICIDE_VTOL-?SITE=RIPRJ&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(843 posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
