Joyce Krawiec serves in the North Carolina Senate. She represents Davie County and Forsyth County, NC. Christian, wife, mother, small business owner, and conservative.
Some of the most depressing conversations I have had since being in the Senate have been with those who advocate for Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS) and Physician Assisted Dying (PAD). In case you have not heard, there is a push to legalize this procedure across all states.
Why do I oppose this? Let me count the ways.
First, and number one on my list: I serve a sovereign God. He is in control of all things. He is the giver of life and all life is precious to Him. Following way down my list are many other reasons in no order.
You are likely aware that several states have passed laws allowing assisted suicide. There was a lot of news around the passage in Oregon since it was the first to pass this legislation. What you may not know is that half of all states have either defeated such measures or passed laws banning it. Much of the information cited here refers to Oregon laws since there is more long-term research available.
There is strong opposition from the Disability Rights groups. Opposition is based on the dangers to folks with disabilities and the devaluation of their lives. There are many other opponents including the World Health Organization, American Medical Society, American College of Physicians, American Cancer Society, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and many others.
Doctors are revered as healers and life savers who treat any condition to fight for a patient’s life. This puts our physicians in a completely different position.
There is a difference between pushing an old lady out of the way of a truck and pushing an old lady in front of a truck. In both cases you’re pushing an old lady but for very different reasons. In the case of Physician Assisted Suicide, a doctor is still prescribing treatment for a patient but expected outcomes are opposites. This moves the physician from a healer and preserver of life to the accomplice in ending a life.
Currently any patient can have end of life directives. This determines what treatment is desired or forbidden. They can refuse any life prolonging treatment.
No surprise that most patients dying from Physician Assisted Suicide and Physician Assisted Dying are cancer patients and the elderly. Elder abuse is considered a huge problem in the United States. Lethal drugs in the hands of abusers pose an additional threat to the elderly.
The result of such laws has many unintended consequences. Patients in Oregon have received word from the Oregon Health Plan that it will pay for assisted suicide but will not pay for treatment that will sustain their lives. A California patient was told that her plan would not pay for her treatment to extend her life, but she would have to pay $1.20 to commit suicide.
The number one reason patients give for deciding on Physician Assisted Suicide or Physician Assisted Dying is that patients don’t want to be a burden on their family. Not the fear of pain or not wanting to live anymore as expected. Assisted suicide is wide open for coercion and putting vulnerable people in danger of abuse. The U.S. Supreme Court has stated that there is a real risk of subtle coercion and undue influence.
Terminal illness is defined broadly in these laws. Eligibility is limited to those who are terminally ill and expected to die within six months. There is no distinction between those who will die without treatment or those who will die with treatment. In many cases, patients can have a long-life expectancy with treatments. Diagnosis of illness and life expectancy are also inaccurate. Many cases have proved this point.
Official data from the Oregon Health Department, show that lethal drugs have been administered to patients with less predictable conditions like chronic respiratory or cardiac disease. There are also cases of Physician Assisted Suicide with diagnosis of “benign and uncertain” tumors.
There is no requirement for a psychiatric evaluations and patients with depression qualify for assisted suicide. Data show that 95% of those who commit suicide suffer from psychiatric illness, usually treatable depression. The official report in Oregon finds that only 4% of patients who died from assisted suicide were referred for evaluation.
The broad definition of self-administered can lead to euthanasia. When lethal drugs have been described there is no requirement to assess the situation. No one would know if the drugs were taken willingly. There is no witness requirement at the time of death.
I find it interesting that as Hospice and Palliative Care facilities have grown throughout the country, states with Physician Assisted Suicide and Physician Assisted Dying have had very few centers built. I think that says it all.
Most of us have lost loved ones who experienced long term illnesses. Many times, these patients led meaningful and productive lives with treatment before succumbing to their illness.
This is a slippery slope. We shouldn’t start the slide.
Further Reading
https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JOP.2017.021840
https://dredf.org/public-policy/assisted-suicide/why-assisted-suicide-must-not-be-legalized/
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Joyce Krawiec serves in the North Carolina Senate. She represents Davie County and Forsyth County, NC. Christian, wife, mother, small business owner, and conservative.