I was pleased to see that Hawaii recently became the seventh state to pass a Death with Dignity law, giving people who are suffering unrelieved pain from a terminal illness the option of dying peacefully, by taking medication prescribed by their doctor at a time and place that they — instead of an impersonal medical system — choose. This is a humane way of dying which gives people the chance to gather family and friends around them to create a passing that lessens the trauma both for themselves and for the people they love.
As a trauma and grief therapist, and healthcare advocate, I know the importance of this end-of-life issue because I see how it affects not only the mental state of people dealing with terminal illness, but continues to resonate through the circles of caregivers and family who witness the suffering of their loved ones and long to relieve it.
Our own Massachusetts Legislature had the opportunity to pass “The End of Life Options Act” (H1194) but the Public Health Committee did not do so, and tabled it to the next session.
Long-time Franklin County state Rep. Stephen Kulik, who is retiring in November, was a co-sponsor of H1194 and a strong supporter of Death with Dignity. And Senator Stan Rosenberg, who resigned recently and will not be a candidate for re-election, had also expressed his support for passage of such a bill.
I strongly hope that all the candidates running for those legislative seats will share their views with the public on this important issue, and pledge to co-sponsor the new bill when it is introduced next January.
Molly Scott
Licensed mental health counselor, Charlemont