from our blog: living with dying |
Vermont Legislature Back in Session
posted by Melissa Barber on January 9, 2012
With the start of the new year, Vermont began the second half of its legislative biennium. During the 2012 session, their state legislature will take a new look at the bills introduced in 2011, and one which looks likely is the proposed Death with Dignity legislation (H. 274 and S. 103). The text of the joint bills emulates groundbreaking laws in Oregon and Washington.
The proposed legislation has strong support with more than a third of lawmakers in both chambers signed on as sponsors and 64% of Vermont voters in favor of their lawmakers passing the legislation. This popular proposal has been featured by the media as well.
Vermont Public Radio featured a story last week about former US Congressman Richard Mallary. Mallary achieved political success serving in the state's Senate and House of Representatives and acting as the Vermont House Speaker from 1966-1968. A longtime supporter of Vermont's Death with Dignity efforts, Mallary was suffering from incurable cancer when he followed his convictions and took his life last fall. His family was saddened by his death but not surprised by his decision.
Mallary openly discussed his end-of-life wishes with his friends and family. His nephew, Peter Mallary, talked about his uncle's position in the interview with Vermont Public Radio reporter John Dillon:
He was open about his conviction in this area with his kids and with other people. He never used his particular situation publicly to push the issue. But with his family we were very clear this was a likely option for him. And that was his choice.
The journalist later appeared as a panelist on Vermont Public Television's Vermont This Week, sharing how he came to report on Dick Mallary's story (about 19 minutes into the interview):
The family felt that his final act would be something he would want the public to know because he was a big supporter of this legislation. He appeared at the State House news conference last year in support of it. It was obviously a private thing that they wrestled with and Dick Mallary was known as a person who followed through on his convictions and that's what they felt that he did. He chose what this bill would allow patients to do but he had to do it by himself.
Vermonters will have a chance this week to learn more about Death with Dignity legislation through a special free screening of Peter Richardson's thought-provoking documentary How to Die in Oregon. The film will show at the state capital's historic Savoy Theater, and the showing will be followed by a discussion.
Public discussions about Death with Dignity are heating up in Vermont and throughout New England. We're following these exciting developments, and look forward to keeping you up-to-date. Please keep in touch through our blog, with our email updates or through social media.
Comments
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Posted by Nora Miller on Tuesday, January 10 at 01:19 p.m.
I met Dick briefly several years ago at a DwD national conference in DC. I was impressed by his frank and open manner. I can well imagine that it has been difficult to openly discuss his final choice--even in Oregon, where it is legal, it can prompt a variety of reactions. I sincerely and strongly support the family's willingness to share this story. It shows that the decision for choice does not involve coercion or desperation, but rather springs from a reasoned discussion amongst loving family members. Vermonters deserve this choice and this is the year to make it happen!
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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.
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