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 | In exactly twenty-six weeks from today we have to defeat Doctor-Prescribed Suicide , aka, "Death with Dignity" in Massachusetts. We cannot have "yes" votes or blanks. We must have "no" votes. That gives us an advantage. As long as we can raise a reasonable doubt in the mind of a voter, that person will vote "no". Every week, we'll present a reasonable doubt with quick background so that you can talk to people that week. We are starting with "suicide contagion". Massachusetts already has a higher death toll from suicide than from auto accidents. Do we want to make that worse? Please read Dr Howland's letter and TALK to all you know this week. ------ Dear Editor: Scott Helman's article on doctor prescribed suicide was a good start to the discussion of this troubling subject. I am a family physician and work every day to help patients at the end of life, but I also see many more who are physically healthy but depressed and tempted to see suicide as an answer to their problems. One of the great dangers of legalizing doctor prescribed suicide is that it may lead others to take their own lives. People like my patient Annie, 18 years old who hung herself, or Brian, a young man who killed himself with his father's shotgun. It is well known that suicide is contagious and leads to copycat suicides. Passage of this dangerous proposal would lead to many collateral deaths by suicide of those who are not terminally ill. Since passage of the law in Oregon, suicide rates have increased 52% higher than the national average. In Massachusetts we are fortunate to have one of the lowest suicide rates in the country. As we think about whether or not to legalize suicide for the terminally ill, let's not forget the many others who will be hurt: the Brians, the Annies, and their families. Sincerely, John Howland, M.D. |
www.nodoctorprescribedsuicide.com
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