Stateline writes on Question 2 in Massachusetts: Declare it a “Bellwether” State
Stateline, the nonpartisan, nonprofit news service of the Pew Center on the States, ran a story recently on the physician assisted suicide ballot question (Question 2) and highlighted the fact that as national health care leader, Massachusetts is a bellwether state on health care issues. They note, the legalization of physician assisted suicide in Massachusetts could have national implications.
However, Stateline is not the only one to note the national implications of passing physician assisted suicide here. Marcia Angell, the former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine and a leading proponent for Question 2, is quoted saying the passage of Question 2 will lead to many other states legalizing physician assisted suicide, calling it: “dominoes around the country.”
That is a scary thought.
The good news is medical leaders in Massachusetts are opposed to Question 2. The Massachusetts Medical Society is OPPOSED to Question 2 along with hundreds of doctors across the state who have joined us to help defeat Question 2.
The Bay State has been on the forefront of advancing medical science. We should be supporting improved hospice and palliative care, not suicide. In recent year, hospice and palliative care have made dramatic leaps forward in the care of those with terminal illnesses. At the end of life, hospice care now provides compassion and comfort, while limiting suffering.
Physician-assisted suicide is blurring the importance of true end of life care. As John Kelly, director of Second Thoughts, states in the article, “we’re the medical capital of the world.” As the medical capital of the world, we should be focusing on the advancement of hospice and palliative care, not suicide.
Read the full article from Stateline here.
