New Hampshire: Questions remain on assisted suicide bill

Description:

New Hampshire House of Representatives Bill 304, "An Act relative to death with dignity for certain persons suffering from a terminal condition", came up for discussion before the Judiciary Committee on Thursday. Rep. Charles Weed, D-Keene, sponsor of the bill, brought a revised version to the committee yesterday that he said provides extra safeguards against abuse.

Among the changes was a restriction that limits access under the bill to those with a terminal disease that will cause death within six months. Neither age nor disability alone can be a factor used in determining if someone qualifies for assisted suicide.

Weed said his intent is to allow those who are dying anyway to go with dignity, with support of their families, only after counseling sessions and review of their cases by licensed physicians. "This is to increase the autonomy of people who are suffering, not to decrease it," Weed said. "The person who goes through this has thought long and hard about it. It's a serious discussion." If the bill does not die in committee, the House is due to vote on it next year.

[Note: My thanks to all who contributed information about the news this week. In particular, Friends at the End, Michael Irwin and Exit International contributed many items. Ed.]

[Note: Some other recent stories related to this topic are in the Links: section below.]

[Note: there are stories in the Overflow: section below.]

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Source:

Fahey, Tom. "Questions remain on assisted suicide bill". Union Leader, New Hampshire. September 24, 2009. <www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?articleId=dd899a3e-d897-4b76-b34a-9048ecec9152>. Union Leader Corporation, 100 William Loeb Drive, P.O. Box 9555, Manchester, NH 03108-9555, U.S.A.

Tags:

Tags (or keywords) briefly indicate some major topics of the report.

  • assisted suicide

  • legislation

  • New Hampshire

  • U.S.A.

Overflow:

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ID:

The EuthaNEWSia ID for this advisory is: enid200909258329.
Mailed: Friday, September 25, 2009 14:11:44 -0600
at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Etcetera:

EuthaNEWSia is a free Canadian news advisory service covering end-of-life issues such as right to die, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. EuthaNEWSia is produced by the Right to Die Society of Canada which works toward a good death for all, including open, regulated and equitable access to euthanasia and assisted suicide. The editor is Michael Dawson <editor@euthanewsia.ca>. 

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