EuthaNEWSia (www.euthanewsia.ca)

North Haven, Conn. - Thomas and Joan Vanacore were a loving, friendly couple with a wide circle of relatives and friends who loved them. But Thomas Vanacore, 73, had late-stage lung and bone cancer and Joan Vanacore, 70, had Alzheimer's disease. On Monday afternoon, Thomas Vanacore shot his wife of 38 years, and then turned the gun on himself. Authorities have ruled the shootings a murder-suicide.

In Connecticut, it is illegal for someone to assist another person to commit suicide, and two Fairfield County doctors are suing the state, hoping to ensure that doctors who prescribe medication that helps a patient end his or her own life won't be charged with second-degree manslaughter under the law. Proponents of aid-in-dying laws, which several states have passed, say those who are terminally ill will not have to resort to violent measures if they can get a prescription from their doctor to end their own lives.

A health law professor at Quinnipiac University said it will be interesting to watch what kind of impact the North Haven murder-suicide has on the court of public opinion and on the General Assembly.

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DeMatteo, Ann. "Connecticut case renews interest in assisted suicide law". The Oakland Press. Published: Wednesday, May 12, 2010. <theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/05/12/news/doc4beaadd0b7704977992767.txt>. The Oakland Press, 48 West Huron, Pontiac, MI 48342, U.S.A.

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The EuthaNEWSia ID for this advisory is: enid201005124292.
Mailed: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 14:16:42 -0600
at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

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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