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May 1, 2022

Massachusetts bishops urge Catholics to voice opposition to physician-assisted suicide

REGIONAL
Staff report

SPRINGFIELD – The bishops of Massachusetts are asking Catholics to call their legislators and voice their opposition to physician-assisted suicide. Two companion bills are currently before the Joint Committee on Health Care Finance. The bills, House 2381 and Senate 1384, are called “An Act relative to end of life options”

“The Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts stand united in our strong opposition to Physician Assisted Suicide. It is an affront to life and a dangerous precedent for determining end of life issues. Physicians are trained to care for the ill, not to hasten death,” the bishops said in a statement released by the Massachusetts Catholic Conference (MCC) which represents the four Roman Catholic bishops of the Commonwealth.

The MCC points out several flaws, including:

1)The bills would allow a physician to provide a lethal prescription to a person given less than 6 months to live, but the diagnosis could be wrong.

2) There are no real safeguards. A vulnerable individual who is physically disabled, depressed, or fears being a “burden” may be subject to undue influence by others to take the drug mixture, especially if there is a financial benefit as an incentive.

3) The primary focus of elected officials should be dedicated to legislation providing quality health care, mental health care and palliative care to the sick and dying – particularly in the underserved, poor and minority communities that suffer the most at the time of need.

Ten years ago, a ballot initiative which would have legalized assisted suicide was narrowly defeated. 

“Part of the job of a physician is to is to alleviate suffering when we can and when we can’t we find other ways to treat people. The problem with physician-assisted suicide is it confuses the mission of a doctor,” said Dr. John Diggs, who has practiced internal medicine for 35 years serving Wilbraham, Palmer and Monson.

“The mission of a doctor is to preserve life and when you start having the ability to eliminate life, it changes your focus and degree to which you are willing to keep someone alive,” Dr. Diggs said.

Ten states, including Vermont, Maine, and the District of Columbia have legalized physician-assisted suicide

“This legislation is dangerously close to passing here in Massachusetts, and would legalize doctor-assisted suicide. As we know, this is not in keeping with a pro-life ethic that all life is precious from beginning to end,” said Father Daniel Pacholec, the director of pro-life activities for the Diocese of Springfield and pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Westfield.

Catholics are encouraged to call their legislators and ask them to say no to physician-assisted suicide. For more information, go to macatholic.org.

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