Assisted Suicide: A Fatally Flawed Option Public Policy Office Archdiocese of New York Spring 2016 Presentation Series

GENERAL THEMES False compassion Disproportionately harms vulnerable populations -mentally ill, poor, disabled, isolated, elderly Corrupts the medical profession Widespread consequences -not constrained to specific cases, but influences healthcare, especially in a cost-driven environment Other viable options available

Pending Legislation Medical Aid-in-Dying Act New York State: (A.10059/S.7579) No procedural fixes can cure inherent problems Note: comparable to bills in other states, modeled after Oregon law

Flawed Legislation Weak standard for determining capacity I. Dangerous to the Vulnerable Weak standard for determining capacity No psychological counseling is required Poor witness requirements Susceptible to misdiagnosis Can third parties make the decision?

Flawed Legislation II. Safety Concerns No protection for the patients at the time they take the lethal drugs No idea where/when/with whom the drugs will be administered Potential for coercion

Flawed Legislation III. Hiding the Truth False statement about cause of death -underlying illness is listed instead of assisted suicide No requirement of reporting Lack of government oversight The perfect crime!

Flawed Legislation IV. No Room for Dissent Inadequate conscience protections for individuals and institutions Indirect participation through counseling and referring is still required

Big Picture Problems Lack of limiting principles -inevitably expands beyond terminally ill adults Devalues those who do not have an “optimal” quality of life (i.e., disabled, sick, elderly, etc.) “It’s really aimed at old black people.” “Back-end eugenics” Reinforces socio-economic inequalities in access to healthcare

Response to Proponents Nothing merciful about it, but a symptom of the “throwaway culture” Not just a personal decision, but has implications for others -suicide contagion Societal interest in intervening when people are harming themselves

The Alternative Recognize the reality and inevitability of suffering Human dignity not dependent on qualities or abilities Improved palliative care and end-of-life care Personal accompaniment and the opportunity to love others To Live Each Day with Dignity: A Statement on Physician- Assisted Suicide http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/assisted-suicide/to-live-each- day/upload/bishops-statement-physician-assisted-suicide-to-live-each-day.pdf

Strategy A. Develop a relationship with local government officials B. Form coalitions with secular groups, especially disability rights groups C. Educate the wider community D. Stress personal stories of hope and accompaniment as the counter-narrative to assisted suicide rhetoric Don’t take any votes for granted! A pro-life stance on abortion does not necessarily mean a stance against assisted suicide A pro-choice stance on abortion does not necessarily mean a stance for assisted suicide