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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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?

5. 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

6. 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!

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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
day/upload/bishops-statement-physician-assisted-suicide-to-live-each-day.pdf

11. 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