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| Law to allow assisted suicide for terminally ill faces crucial vote | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A bill that would allow terminally ill adults in Maryland to take their own lives appears at risk of failing in committee, with two of the four lawmakers whose votes are needed for the legislation to advance saying Wednesday that they have strong reservations about it. | A bill that would allow terminally ill adults in Maryland to take their own lives appears at risk of failing in committee, with two of the four lawmakers whose votes are needed for the legislation to advance saying Wednesday that they have strong reservations about it. |
| The Death With Dignity Act, which is slated for a vote in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Thursday, has drawn strong support from advocates and families of the terminally ill but equally passionate opposition from the Catholic Church, disability rights groups and others. | The Death With Dignity Act, which is slated for a vote in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Thursday, has drawn strong support from advocates and families of the terminally ill but equally passionate opposition from the Catholic Church, disability rights groups and others. |
| Two members of the 11-person committee are co-sponsoring the bill, while five members have said they oppose it. That means the four other lawmakers on the panel — all of whom remain undecided — would have to vote in favor of the measure for it to survive. | Two members of the 11-person committee are co-sponsoring the bill, while five members have said they oppose it. That means the four other lawmakers on the panel — all of whom remain undecided — would have to vote in favor of the measure for it to survive. |
| [Agonizing over the right to die] | [Agonizing over the right to die] |
| “It’s a relatively new concept,” said Sen. Victor Ramirez (D-Prince George’s), one of the lawmakers who has not taken a position. “Only a few states have passed laws about it.” | “It’s a relatively new concept,” said Sen. Victor Ramirez (D-Prince George’s), one of the lawmakers who has not taken a position. “Only a few states have passed laws about it.” |
| Ramirez and Sen. Bobby Zirkin (D-Baltimore County), the committee chairman, said they were troubled by testimony from opponents that suggested that poor people and the disabled could opt to end their lives early because options for medical treatment are too expensive or out of reach. | Ramirez and Sen. Bobby Zirkin (D-Baltimore County), the committee chairman, said they were troubled by testimony from opponents that suggested that poor people and the disabled could opt to end their lives early because options for medical treatment are too expensive or out of reach. |
| “We don’t want people who are not receiving proper health care to see this as the only option they have,” Ramirez said. | “We don’t want people who are not receiving proper health care to see this as the only option they have,” Ramirez said. |
| Zirkin said he is concerned that no amendments have been offered to the legislation to ensure that it would not be used in an unethical way. “I have to make a decision on if it’s the right public policy,” he said. | Zirkin said he is concerned that no amendments have been offered to the legislation to ensure that it would not be used in an unethical way. “I have to make a decision on if it’s the right public policy,” he said. |
| A third undecided lawmaker, Sen. Susan Lee (D-Montgomery), called aid in dying “a tough issue.” | A third undecided lawmaker, Sen. Susan Lee (D-Montgomery), called aid in dying “a tough issue.” |
| “There are compelling arguments on both sides,” she said Wednesday. | “There are compelling arguments on both sides,” she said Wednesday. |
| The fourth undecided lawmaker, Sen. Anthony Muse (D-Prince George’s), declined to discuss his thoughts publicly. | The fourth undecided lawmaker, Sen. Anthony Muse (D-Prince George’s), declined to discuss his thoughts publicly. |
| Maryland’s bill is modeled after a law passed in California last year following the highly publicized death of Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old Bay Area woman with terminal brain cancer who moved to Oregon to commit suicide legally. | Maryland’s bill is modeled after a law passed in California last year following the highly publicized death of Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old Bay Area woman with terminal brain cancer who moved to Oregon to commit suicide legally. |
| The measure needs six votes to move out of the Senate committee. | The measure needs six votes to move out of the Senate committee. |
| [Advocates for aid in dying make their case, one Marylander at a time] | [Advocates for aid in dying make their case, one Marylander at a time] |
| Maryland is known as a progressive state, and a recent Goucher College poll found that 60 percent of state residents support allowing terminally ill adults to take their own lives. | Maryland is known as a progressive state, and a recent Goucher College poll found that 60 percent of state residents support allowing terminally ill adults to take their own lives. |
| But proponents of the bill said they have always known they were fighting an uphill battle, given the state’s strong African American and Catholic communities, both of which have historically been uncomfortable with assisted suicide. | But proponents of the bill said they have always known they were fighting an uphill battle, given the state’s strong African American and Catholic communities, both of which have historically been uncomfortable with assisted suicide. |
| “Every demographic group supports the bill,” Sen. Ronald Young (D-Frederick), the lead sponsor of the legislation, said Tuesday. “I hate it when religion gets into these things. I respect somebody’s religion, but practice yours, don’t tell me. I consider this a personal choice. If you don’t like it, don’t do it.” | “Every demographic group supports the bill,” Sen. Ronald Young (D-Frederick), the lead sponsor of the legislation, said Tuesday. “I hate it when religion gets into these things. I respect somebody’s religion, but practice yours, don’t tell me. I consider this a personal choice. If you don’t like it, don’t do it.” |
| Under the bill, a doctor could prescribe a lethal dose of medication to a patient who has six months or less to live. The patient would have to self-administer the medicine. | Under the bill, a doctor could prescribe a lethal dose of medication to a patient who has six months or less to live. The patient would have to self-administer the medicine. |
| The Maryland Catholic Conference and disability rights advocates say the measure could open the door for mistreatment of the disabled, elderly and minority communities, which they say already experience disparities in health-care access. | The Maryland Catholic Conference and disability rights advocates say the measure could open the door for mistreatment of the disabled, elderly and minority communities, which they say already experience disparities in health-care access. |
| “Legalizing suicide as a medical course-of-action will only serve to further erode the healthcare that vulnerable people currently receive, especially since it is much less expensive than continuing treatments,” said a statement distributed in Annapolis last month on Catholic Lobby Night, an annual event at which members of the church talk to lawmakers about bills. | “Legalizing suicide as a medical course-of-action will only serve to further erode the healthcare that vulnerable people currently receive, especially since it is much less expensive than continuing treatments,” said a statement distributed in Annapolis last month on Catholic Lobby Night, an annual event at which members of the church talk to lawmakers about bills. |
| The legislation was proposed in Maryland last year, but never received a committee vote. This year, lawmakers heard hours of emotional testimony during hearings in both chambers of the General Assembly. There were terminally ill patients who pleaded for the option to end their lives and caregivers who described the painful deaths of their loved ones. And there were religious leaders and disability advocates who argued that “every life” is precious and raised concerns about the potential for abuse. | The legislation was proposed in Maryland last year, but never received a committee vote. This year, lawmakers heard hours of emotional testimony during hearings in both chambers of the General Assembly. There were terminally ill patients who pleaded for the option to end their lives and caregivers who described the painful deaths of their loved ones. And there were religious leaders and disability advocates who argued that “every life” is precious and raised concerns about the potential for abuse. |
| A right-to-die measure was defeated in Colorado last week after lawmakers realized there was not enough support to pass the legislature. | A right-to-die measure was defeated in Colorado last week after lawmakers realized there was not enough support to pass the legislature. |
| Proponents of Maryland’s bill have worked since last year to build momentum for the measure. They invited small groups to watch the documentary “How to Die in Oregon,” about that state’s assisted-suicide law, and held “house parties” where they served coffee and doughnuts and offered information about end-of-life options for the terminally ill. | Proponents of Maryland’s bill have worked since last year to build momentum for the measure. They invited small groups to watch the documentary “How to Die in Oregon,” about that state’s assisted-suicide law, and held “house parties” where they served coffee and doughnuts and offered information about end-of-life options for the terminally ill. |
| Young said Tuesday that he “feels a little sad” knowing that the measure may not get to the Senate floor, where he says it has widespread support. | Young said Tuesday that he “feels a little sad” knowing that the measure may not get to the Senate floor, where he says it has widespread support. |
| “But if it doesn’t get out of committee, we’re nowhere,” he said. | “But if it doesn’t get out of committee, we’re nowhere,” he said. |