Aid-in-dying bills sent back for study despite past research

The Massachusetts Health Committee yesterday ordered further examination of proposed legislation that would allow doctors to help patients die — effectively spiking the bills for this session.

“We are deeply disappointed that the Massachusetts Legislature has referred the End of Life Options Act to study when there are already 40 years of data about medical aidin-dying laws in six states, and polling shows more than 60 percent of doctors and 70 percent of voters in Massachusetts support this option,” said Marie Manis, Massachusetts campaign director for Compassion & Choices.

“The tragedy is terminally ill Massachusetts residents with six months or less to live will not have this option to peacefully end their suffering if they need it before the Legislature revisits this issue next year,” she added.

The aid-in-dying bills — H1194 and S1225 — would give doctors the green light to prescribe life-ending medications to their patients.

Patients would be required to ask for this both verbally and in writing. The doctor would need to verify that the disease is in fact incurable and would undoubtedly lead to death within six months.

A 2012 ballot question in Massachusetts permitting the same practice was narrowly rejected by voters. Six other states including Vermont, California and Montana have legal aid in dying, along with Washington, D.C.

The Massachusetts Medical Society voted last December to change its stance on assisted death from opposed to neutral.

The Colorado Medical Society adopted a neutral stance on the issue shortly before voters in that state approved the End of Life Options Act, and many suspected the commonwealth would follow suit.

“Assisted suicide is not medical treatment,” said Matt Valliere, executive director of Patients Rights Action Fund and an opponent of the legislation. “It is bad public policy that puts a great many at risk of deadly harm through mistakes, coercion and abuse.”