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Massachusetts Proposed Ballot Initiative Well-Received

Posted by Melissa Barber on August 26, 2011

The Massachusetts Death with Dignity Coalition filed the paperwork for a proposed ballot measure for 2012 at the beginning of August, and this news has been well-received. Shortly after the language was filed with Attorney General Martha Coakley, The Patriot Ledger ran a story with a poll for their readers to weigh in on the proposed initiative and summarized the results in a follow-up, front page article:

The proposal to legalize assisted suicide for some terminally ill patients is likely to ignite a lot of debate. It was a controversial enough subject that 643 Patriot Ledger readers chimed in on a website questionnaire.

Nearly three-quarters — 474 — said they would vote in favor of such a referendum.

This article further went on to report Quincy residents' reactions:

"I think that anyone who finds they're terminal, and there's no turning back, and they decide they want to go, they should have that right," said the 72-year-old Quincy resident as he sat over morning coffee at Barry's Deli in Wollaston.

Read more: Massachusetts Proposed Ballot Initiative Well-Received

Death with Dignity Ballot Initiative Proposed in Massachusetts

Posted by Peg Sandeen, MSW on August 19, 2011

It was in January or February of this year when I first heard of local activity in Massachusetts—a team was being put together to explore potential for a Death with Dignity initiative on the November, 2012, ballot. I was excited because this meant Massachusetts would join Vermont as two New England states initiating home-grown Death with Dignity efforts to bring safe, state-monitored physician-hastened dying to terminally ill adult residents.

Ballot initiatives raise the profile of specific subjects, engaging voters in public and private discussions of matters they might not otherwise consider. Death remains one of the final taboos in our country, yet it is a critically important topic for discussion among family members. Simply giving voters the opportunity to discuss Death with Dignity could positively impact the way hundreds of people live and die, sparking frank discussions between the terminally ill and their physicians about a broader spectrum of end-of-life options.

Read more: Death with Dignity Ballot Initiative Proposed in Massachusetts

August Tweetchat Recording: Death with Dignity & Religion

Posted by Melissa Barber on August 18, 2011

Receiving a terminal diagnosis often moves people to reflect more on their spirituality. Some revisit the religious traditions they grew up with. Others discover a different faith resonates more with their current life. Another group becomes grounded in the life and love that surrounds them.

The possibilities are endless, but one thing's for certain: reflection of one's spirituality is typically part of facing life's end. People from all over joined us on Twitter to chat about religion and spirituality's role during the dying process and how people of different faiths view Death with Dignity Acts.

This TweetChat is part of a series of monthly conversations about different aspects of dying and Death with Dignity laws. Through TweetChats, Twitter allows an open and candid discussion about a particular subject indicated by a hashtag. (Learn more about hashtags here.) In our case, since we'll chat about Death with Dignity, we'll use #DWDchat as our hashtag. By participating in our TweetChats and tweeting publicly about Death with Dignity you:

Read more: August Tweetchat Recording: Death with Dignity & Religion

August Tweetchat: Death with Dignity & Religion and Spirituality

Posted by Melissa Barber on August 16, 2011

Receiving a terminal diagnosis often moves people to reflect more on their spirituality. Some revisit the religious traditions they grew up with. Others discover a different faith resonates more with their current life. Another group becomes grounded in the life and love that surrounds them.

The possibilities are endless, but one thing's for certain: reflection of one's spirituality is typically part of facing life's end. This Thursday, please join us on Twitter to chat about religion and spirituality's role during the dying process and how people of different faiths view Death with Dignity Acts.

This TweetChat is part of a series of monthly conversations about different aspects of dying and Death with Dignity laws. Through TweetChats, Twitter allows an open and candid discussion about a particular subject indicated by a hashtag. (Learn more about hashtags here.) In our case, since we'll chat about Death with Dignity, we'll use #DWDchat as our hashtag. By participating in our TweetChats and tweeting publicly about Death with Dignity you:

Read more: August Tweetchat: Death with Dignity & Religion and Spirituality

Vermont Death with Dignity Effort

Posted by Guest Blogger on August 12, 2011

A special report from Amy Shollenberger, Grassroots Organizer for Patient Choices Vermont, about the recent accomplishments and current status of the Vermont's Death with Dignity legislative effort:

Patient Choices Vermont has been working hard toward the first ever legislatively passed Death with Dignity Act.

This past winter, the bill was introduced into both sides of the Vermont Statehouse (H.274 in the House and S.103 in the Senate) with a large number of sponsors, including prominent members of all three major political parties — Democrat, Republican, and Progressive — and it's well positioned for passage during the 2012 legislative session.

Read more: Vermont Death with Dignity Effort

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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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