I agree that they should have a right to do so, however I'm bothered by the fact that it could be an unsuspecting family member that finds them afterwards. It can be traumatizing to find a dead body.
I would hope that people in a position to consider legally-assisted suicide would think of their family members and let them know what they're planning to do ahead of time. I just don't think it should be anyone's right to tell someone they have to have a doctor present, if that's not what they want.
Having a doctor present or not really isn't the big issue. Having others abuse the law is what really concerns me. Is grandma, a quadriplegic spouse, a mentally challenged, etc child a financial burden? Do they have an insurance policy, or an inheritance, well then just off them, and claim it was suicide....
But doesn't this law specifically deal with
terminally ill patients? A quadriplegic spouse or mentally challenged child isn't, barring any other illness, terminally ill. I haven't read the proposed law for Massachusetts, but Washington and Oregon already have legalized physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients.
From the Washington Death With Dignity Act:
- The patient must be an adult (18 or over) resident of the state of Washington
- The patient must be mentally competent, verified by two physicians (or referred to a mental health evaluation)
- The patient must be terminally ill with less than 6 months to live, verified by two physicians.
- The patient must make voluntary requests, without coercion, verified by two physicians
- The patient must be informed of all other options including palliative and hospice care
- There is a 15 day waiting period between the first oral request and a written request
- There is a 48 hour waiting period between the written request and the writing of the prescription
- The written request must be signed by two independent witnesses, at least one of whom is not related to the patient or employed by the health care facility
- The patient is encouraged to discuss with family (not required because of confidentiality laws)
- The patient may change their mind at any time and rescind the request
- The attending physician may sign the patient's death certificate which must list the underlying terminal disease as the cause of death
From the Oregon Death With Dignity Act:
Under the law, a capable adult Oregon resident who has been diagnosed, by a physician, with a terminal illness that will kill the patient within six months may request in writing, from his or her physician, a prescription for a lethal dose of medication for the purpose of ending the patient's life. Exercise of the option under this law is voluntary and the patient must initiate the request.
The request must be confirmed by two witnesses, at least one of whom is not related to the patient, is not entitled to any portion of the patient's estate, is not the patient's physician, and is not employed by a health care facility caring for the patient. After the request is made, another physician must examine the patient's medical records and confirm the diagnosis. The patient must be determined to be free of a mental condition impairing judgment. If the request is authorized, the patient must wait at least fifteen days and make a second oral request before the prescription may be written. The patient has a right to rescind the request at any time. Should either physician have concerns about the patient's ability to make an informed decision, or feel the patient's request may be motivated by depression or coercion, the patient must be referred for a psychological evaluation.
Honestly, I suspect some terminally ill people just overdose on pills they've already been prescribed, as it is. The main change brought by a law would deal with things like life insurance. As far as I know, most policies do not pay out in the case of suicide. People whose families may not need the insurance money, people without a life insurance policy, or people who don't have family who would benefit from the policy could "accidentally" overdose with no legal percussions.
When I was in college, a guy my mom had dated years before was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He didn't have health insurance, was single, and had no children. One day he called 911 to get an ambulance at his house, hung up the phone, and blew his brains out; he was dead when they got there.
