Creating a culture of life in the United States means more than just focusing on abortion. On the opposite end of the spectrum is end-of-life care. Ten states and the District of Columbia have so-called “death with dignity” measures that allow for assisted suicide. As it stands now, a total of 18 states have introduced legislation either this session or this year that would give residents the option to end their lives with medical assistance. None of this is progress.
It’s no surprise that a nation struggling with valuing life in its beginning stages struggles with valuing life at its end. It also comes as no surprise that members of the Democratic Party are responsible for the push to legalize euthanasia. The Left praises a woman’s choice over her own body and celebrates assisted suicide for giving terminally ill patients who meet certain criteria control over their deaths. But the latter is ripe for abuse.
In Virginia, House Bill 858 and Senate Bill 280 were just introduced this month. Nichole Davis of the Virginia Association for Centers for Independent Living opposes the legislation and said, “Will death be the option that is presented rather than how they can live and thrive, even if it’s only for six months, and what that would look like?”
Discussions surrounding assisted suicide can conveniently ignore the benefits of both hospice care and palliative care. These forms of patient care are not about curing the person but are no less important. Bringing a patient through to their natural end in as painless, comfortable, and compassionate a way as possible is the ultimate expression of respect.
Other opponents, such as Victoria Cobb of the Family Foundation, said of the Virginia legislation, “Last year, this measure was defeated by legislators of both political parties because it corrupts the patient-physician relationship and incentivizes insurance companies to abandon coverage of life-saving measures to save money.” Virginia and the other states considering similar measures, including Massachusetts, Florida, New York, Kentucky, and Iowa, should steer clear.
In Canada, a group that supports the governmental Medical Assistance in Dying program advocates expanding the age minimum to “mature minors” who are 12 and older: “DWDC asks that Parliament amend the existing age requirement of 18 years of age to extend it to persons at least 12 years of age and capable of making decisions with respect to their health.” This is nothing short of evil. And if anything, it shows just how much of a slippery slope it is once assisted suicide is not only legalized but normalized. We simply cannot let that happen in the U.S.
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Society does not improve by getting rid of the sick, disabled, and dying people among us. We can’t truly honor life in any stage unless we honor it in all its stages. This requires rejecting assisted suicide as a cultural or political good. According to Davis, “Studies show many terminally ill patients make decisions based on fears of the unknown or loss of control.” The last thing we should do is treat these patients as any sort of burden.
The act of taking one’s life is always a tragedy, no matter the situation. There is no reason to downplay the very serious nature of terminal illness and its effect on patients and their families. There is also no need to encourage suicide as a form of escape. As Pope Francis said in 2022, “We must accompany people towards death, but not provoke death or facilitate assisted suicide.” Accompanying our loved ones through the last stages, however difficult they may be, is an essential part of life.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.