February 2015 Newsletter

The above-referenced bill would add a new section of the Public Health Law to allow physicians to prescribe lethal doses of medication for the express purpose of ending a patient’s life.

The New York State Catholic Conference opposes this legislation for the reasons outlined below.

We would note that the title of the legislation itself – the “death with dignity act” – is biased against those persons who allow a natural death to occur, inferring that a natural death is somehow less dignified than assisted suicide. Similarly, language used throughout the legislation references “ending life in a humane and dignified manner,” suggesting that allowing natural death to occur is “inhumane and undignified.” We find this language to be biased and insulting.

Legalizing physician-assisted suicide would:

• Blur longstanding medical, moral and legal distinctions between withdrawing extraordinary medical assistance and taking active steps to destroy human life. One lets people die a natural death; the other is the deliberate and direct act of hastening death.

• Undermine the physician’s role as healer, forever alter the doctor-patient relationship, and lessen the quality of care provided to patients at the end of life. Patients are best served when medical professionals, together with families and loved ones, provide support and care with dignity and respect, not lethal doses of drugs. The American Medical Association holds a policy position against physician-assisted suicide, which they say is “fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role” and would be “difficult or impossible to control.”

The assisted suicide issue will soon be upon us in New York State and could have a great impact on care for those at the end of life. 

The Public Relations Of Death 

By Richard M. Doerflinger

En Español

A campaign to legalize assisted suicide is moving forward in New Jersey, with similar proposals to be introduced in California, Maryland and other states.The former Hemlock Society (now under the more appealing name “Compassion & Choices”) hopes to pass such bills in a dozen states this year, although its efforts produced new laws in only three states (Oregon, Washington and Vermont) in the past 25 years.

What makes C&C so optimistic?After all, its agenda is the same as always: Protecting doctors who want to prescribe a barbiturate overdose so their patients can kill themselves.

The change is in the public relations of the issue, due to an attractive 29-year-old cancer patient named Brittany Maynard.Ms. Maynard, a California resident, announced last fall that she was unwilling to face the expected suffering of her illness, and would move to Oregon so she could take her life on November 1 using its assisted suicide law.She appeared on the cover of People magazine and became a spokesperson for C&C, her interviews and video appearances carefully vetted by its media relations staff.Just before the announced date she said she didn’t feel too bad and may live longer – then went through with her suicide anyway.What encouragement she received from C&C to “get with the program” we may never know.

This raises basic questions.Is it the government’s job to make suicide “convenient” for some people?Shouldn’t it value everyone’s life and prevent suicide without discrimination, not select which people receive a helping hand to jump off the ledge? Read More

Racing Toward A Culture Of Life

By Mary Prentis

En Español

Runners build up endurance to race in a marathon, and Olympic athletes train endlessly to compete in the Olympic Games. A great deal of hard work and perseverance is needed to achieve smaller goals that eventually lead to success in larger goals-such as winning the marathon or earning a gold medal.
Each year, on or near January 22, pro-life supporters gather in remembrance of a court decision that has affected countless lives for the past 42 years. Last week hundreds of thousands of pro-life advocates flocked to our nation’s capital, banding together in our effort to protect life at all stages. Like the runners and Olympians who achieve milestones during their training, the crowds and their enthusiasm are inspirational and encouraging. Yet although the anniversary of Roe v. Wade has passed this year, our legwork is not complete and is as crucial as ever.

As pro-life advocates, we have not finished training for our race. We need to continue moving forward with love in our hearts and the desire to make a significant impact. The tide is turning as the millennial generation is emerging as the “pro-life generation.” We all have a responsibility to defend and protect all human life, from conception to natural death-how exciting to see this reflected in our youth!  Read More