My heart goes out the writer of the May 9 letter titled “Time to legalize medical aid in dying.” (MAID)
If I was also facing Stage 4 cancer, I’d certainly want the legal option of a peaceful painless death — by self-ingesting a medication prescribed by my doctor — rather than spend my final days or weeks in unbearable pain which even the best efforts of hospice and palliative care often can’t alleviate. I’ve seen this happen too often in my own family.
I’m so glad that Hampshire and Franklin County’s own Senator Jo Comerford is doing all she can as the lead sponsor of The End of Life Options Act (S.1486) to get it passed. But it probably won’t be enough unless MAID supporters all over the state urge their state senators to call on the Senate President Karen Spilka to prioritize passing this bill before the legislative session ends on July 31.
I thought that when New York state passed this law last December, joining Maine, Vermont, New Jersey, and nine other states plus Washington D.C. along with many other countries like Canada, the Legislature’s leaders would finally do the same after 15 years of growing public and legislative support. So join me in thanking Sen. Comerford for her leadership, and then contacting people you know all over the state and urging them to contact their senator too to fight for passing this bill as soon as possible.
For many terminally ill and suffering people’s lives and peace of mind, it’s the right and compassionate thing to do.
Deborah Palmer
Hadley