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from our blog: living with dying |
September Blog Recap
Posted by Melissa Barber on October 6, 2011
Print| News from www.DeathwithDignity.org | "Respect the will of the people." |
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A tragic side effect of death being treated as taboo in our society is many of us react to the news that a loved one is dying by running away. These difficult moments are hard to share but so necessary for all of us to know we're not alone. Last month, guest blogger Briget Wandruff graciously shared her challenges with death and how these experiences have called her to be present for the dying. As another state moved forward to offer the terminally-ill an option to avoid protracted dying, our blog covered major milestones in this effort. Early in the month, the Massachusetts Attorney General certified the proposed Death with Dignity ballot measure which kicked off the signature-gathering effort by Dignity 2012. This news, while well-received by the public and press, drew the ire of the Boston Archdiocese. To keep people up-to-date on the New England efforts, we turned our monthly tweetchat over to Dignity 2012 in the Commonwealth and Patient Choices Vermont to discuss their work and upcoming efforts. Check out these stories and more below and read the news as it happens on our blog, Living with Dying. Sincerely, The Calling Do I need a lesson in goodbye? At the beginning of the year I received a letter from a friend, "How are you? I suppose you are still in mourning, but then you will always be mourning." I've survived saying goodbye to a half-sister, a father, a grandfather, three grandmothers, an aunt, two uncles, friends—far too many friends—before I had turned twenty-three—and not a single person went on the quiet—that wish for "the perfect death". Massachusetts Attorney General Certifies Proposed Ballot Measure According to the Boston Herald this next hurdle is, "typically a costly, intensive effort that has derailed ballot initiatives in previous years." However, with strong public support the prospect of continuing through the process looks bright. According to an online, non-scientific poll when the initiative proposal was filed, over 70% of of the 643 respondents indicated they would vote for this initiative. Massachusetts Effort Draws Ire of Boston Cardinal Given early statements from the Catholic Church and past involvement with the issue, the campaign expects most of the money raised to oppose the ballot initiative effort will come from the Catholic Church. Online Discussion About Massachusetts and Vermont Efforts To get you caught up on all of these exciting developments and help you learn how to get involved, we turned over this month's TweetChat to Dignity 2012 in the Commonwealth and Patient Choices Vermont to chat about their proposed Death with Dignity Acts. |
In This Issue:
You're the key to new Death with Dignity laws The Death with Dignity National Center, and its political affiliate — the Death with Dignity Political Action Fund — are working at full capacity to support both Massachusetts and Vermont financially and with our decades of experience helping people learn about Death with Dignity Acts. Prominent Scholar Adds Her Support End-of-Life Care Articles Learn the Facts About Death with Dignity Forward to a Friend The best way for us to ensure Death with Dignity is an option for all Americans is to tell to more people our story. Will you help us connect with your friends? We'd love to hear from you! |
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Images: Briget's father's last walk with Finn by Briget Wandruff and Celtic cross by Fiona Thomson. |
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You are the key to ensuring well-crafted Death with Dignity laws for all Americans. With your financial and volunteer help, the Death with Dignity National Center, a 501(c)(3), non-partisan, non-profit organization, has been the leading advocate in the death with dignity movement. Member contributions helped us pass a new Death with Dignity law in Washington, defend the Oregon law, and provide education and outreach programs for the vitality of the death with dignity movement.
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About Death with Dignity
The greatest human freedom is to live, and die, according to one's own desires and beliefs. From advance directives to physician-assisted dying, death with dignity is a movement to provide options for the dying to control their own end-of-life care.
Death with Dignity National Center is the leader in this movement, successfully establishing, advancing and defending the landmark Oregon and Washington Death with Dignity Acts.
Political Action Fund
The Death with Dignity National Center partners with the Oregon Death with Dignity Political Action Fund to conduct lobbying and political activities in order to achieve the enactment of Death with Dignity laws in other states.
Learn more about the Oregon Death with Dignity Political Action Fund.
Patients & Families
The Death with Dignity National Center was formed out of a profound commitment to the idea that personal end-of-life decisions should be made solely between a patient and a physician. We are pleased to provide you with support and information as you face the difficult challenges ahead.
Research Center
We have compiled a comprehensive collection of legal briefs, journal articles, and newspaper clippings. We invite you to explore the wide array of information we have collected throughout our history.
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