STATE LAWMAKERS WILL ONCE AGAIN
TAKE UP THE CONTROVERSIAL AND
EMOTIONAL DEBATE SURROUNDING
END- OF-LIFE DECISIONS NEXT
YEAR.
22 NEWS STATE HOUSE REPORTER
TIFFANY CHAN SPOKE WITH THE MAN
WHO WANTS TO
LEGALIZE "DEATH WITH DIGNITY" IN
MASSACHUSETTS.
AFTER SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS,
STOUGHTON STATE REPRESENTATIVE
LOUIS KAFKA PLANS TO FILE THE
SO-CALLED "DEATH WITH DIGNITY"
BILL AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
THE PROPOSAL HAS YET TO MAKE IT
PAST THE COMMITTEE PROCESS IN
MASSACHUSETTS.
THE CONTROVERSIAL BILL WOULD
GIVE AILING PATIENTS THE OPTION
TO END THEIR
LIFE ON THEIR OWN TERMS.
UNDER THE LEGISLATION, DOCTORS
WOULD BE ABLE TO PRESCRIBE
LIFE-ENDING DRUGS TO PATIENTS
WHO'VE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH
HAVONG LESS THAN
SIX MONTHS TO LIVE.
MASSACHUSETTS VOTERS NARROWLY
REJECTED A SIMILAR BALLOT
QUESTION IN
2012.
REPRESENTATIVE KAFKA EXPLAINED
THAT HIS PROPOSAL IS ABOUT
GIVING PEOPLE
WHO ARE DYING THE RIGHT TO
DECIDE HOW AND WHEN TO END THEIR
LIFE.
THEY CAN OPT OUT. IF THEY GO
THROUGH THE PROCESS
AND THEN AT THE VERY END DECIDE
I CAN'T TO DO THIS - THEY CAN
OPT OUT AND NOT DO IT."
OREGON, WASHINGTON AND VERMONT
HAVE PASSED SIMILAR LAWS TO
ALLOW FOR
DOCTOR-ASSISTED SUICIDES.
AT THE STATE HOUSE IN BOSTON,
TIFFANY CHAN FOR 22 NEWS.
