Montana: Cancer patient argues for his right to die with dignity

Description: [of the article from the Great Falls Tribune]

Steve Johnson, 72, of Helena, Montana writes to ask his fellow citizens to reject the passage of state laws that would outlaw assisted suicide.

Johnson introduces his situation: I think I should have something to say about my ending. I have spoken with my doctor about what is likely to happen as my brain cancer progresses. I am now fairly disabled and it is likely that I will go blind. I am very concerned about intense pain and loss of dignity as the cancer worsens. Our Montana Supreme Court recently decided that our end-of-life medical choices are private. Terminally ill adults can request medication to bring about a peaceful death. It is a great comfort to know I can ask my doctor to honor my decision when the time comes.

Johnson concludes:
I am glad Compassion & Choices, a national education and lobbying organization, is leading the fight against those who want to decide how we are allowed to die.

I want my physician to be able to respect and honor my choice to die with dignity. Adults like myself should have the option, if terminally ill, to request physician assistance in dying. Even though I don't know whether I would ultimately take medication to end my life peacefully, I'd like to have the choice.

[There is information in the Notes section below.]
[There are other related stories in the Links: section below.]

Links:

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Source:

Johnson, Steve. "Cancer patient argues for his right to die with dignity". Great Falls Tribune. May 10, 2010. <www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20100510/OPINION/5100303/Cancer+patient+argues+for+his+right+to+die+with+dignity>. Great Falls Tribune, 205 River Drive South, Great Falls, MT 59405, U.S.A.

Tags:

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

  • assisted suicide

  • Compassion & Choices

  • Montana

  • U.S.A.

Notes:

  • Newsletter: Issue One from the Society for Old Age Rational Suicide [SOARS]
    http://www.soars.org.uk/index.php/newsletter

    Issue One: April 2010 Contents:
    Our Ageing Population and its Consequences
    Recent Dutch Developments
    June Living Will Campaign
    A Practical Example of OARS
    International Awareness of SOARS
    The First Annual SOARS Lecture
    Recent Useful Quotes
    Ours is a very Long-term Campaign

  • Australia: Fact Sheets [Dying with Dignity New South Wales]
    http://www.dwdnsw.org.au/ves/index.php/facts/
    Dying with Dignity New South Wales has updated their Fact Sheet #2 on "The case for dying with dignity". Their 14 Fact Sheets cover many facets of Dying with Dignity:

    Fact Sheet 1- Definitions and terminology;
    Fact Sheet 2 - The case for dying with dignity;
    Fact Sheet 3 - Answers to five common objections;
    Fact Sheet 4 - Objection - The fear of abuse;
    Fact Sheet 5 - Objection - a slippery slope;
    Fact Sheet 6 - The principle of 'Double Effect'.
    Fact Sheet 7 - Advance health care directives and enduring guardianship in NSW;
    Fact Sheet 8 - Medical opinion;
    Fact Sheet 9 - Nursing opinion.
    Fact Sheet 10 - Public opinion;
    Fact Sheet 11 - Assisted Dying in the Netherlands and Oregon (USA);
    Fact Sheet 12 - Dying of Cancer.
    Fact Sheet 13 - The Hippocratic Oath;
    Fact Sheet 14 - A guide to DIGNITAS.

ID:

The EuthaNEWSia ID for this advisory is: enid201005101103.
Mailed: Monday, May 10, 2010 14:15:04 -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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