'Right to Die' law sparks debate скачать в хорошем качестве

'Right to Die' law sparks debate

A young woman's decision to end her own life, because of brain cancer, has re-sparked debate over physician assisted suicide, or dying with dignity. Brittany Maynard was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in January. She decided to move from California to Oregon because doctors there are allowed by law to prescribe life ending medication to patients who are older than 18 and have been given less than six months to live. She took that medication on Saturday. Vermont has a similar law and lawmakers in Massachusetts are studying the issue there. "If you're at the end, I think it should be your choice ultimately," said Charlton Goodson, from Pittsfield. In Massachusetts, voters that CBS6 spoke with on Monday were split on the issue, much like they were in 2012. That's when a measure to allow physician assisted suicide was narrowly rejected on the ballot. "You should be able to choose whether or not you want to suffer," said Danielle Langdon, from Pittsfield. "I understand that it's terminal illness, but there are a lot of other ways to go about living the rest of their lives out," said Michael Harrington, from Pittsfield. Dr. Giza Lopes, a Postdoctoral Associate with the University at Albany School of Criminal Justice, has studied this issue extensively. She said the issue likely failed two years ago in Massachusetts, because it was strongly opposed by the Catholic Church. The Massachusetts Medical Society told CBS6 Monday that it is also still against physician-assisted suicide, but does support patient dignity and alleviation of pain. Despite the vote in 2012, the issue hasn't gone away. In June, lawmakers in the Public Health Committee ordered a study. The group Maynard worked with, Compassion and Choices, lists Massachusetts as one of the state it's campaigning in. It did not want to speak on camera Monday because of Maynard's death, but did point CBS6 to a statement and obituary for Maynard posted on its website. https://www.compassionandchoices.org/... Dr. Lopes, said Maynard spoke to a population that may not have been thinking about death in this way before. She said Maynard's story may create momentum surrounding the issue. "She can reach out to younger folks for whom the issue may resonate more loudly right now and might be in a position to vote to legalize it if the issue comes to the ballots in the future," said Dr. Lopes. In Vermont, a law similar to Oregon's was enacted last May. On Monday, the Vermont Department of Health told CBS6 that five form submissions have been made that meet the requirements of the law, since it was signed. Dr. Lopes has tracked the programs in other states like Oregon and Washington. She said that in Oregon, for example, the number of those receiving the lethal prescription don't match the number of those using it. "What we've learned from that is maybe people get the medication but they don't (always) go ahead and actually use it," she said.