To the Editor:

Last week, a wonderful editorial about my wife, Lynda Shannon Bluestein, appeared in The Newtown Bee. Lynda has late-stage metastatic cancer.

We’ve spent 40 plus years together and know each other so well we can easily finish each other’s sentences, often before they are spoken aloud. These days, those sentences invariably circle back to the realities of how short our remaining time together is likely to be and what we are going to do about our biggest issue.

It’s not the cancer. It’s about death with dignity.

One of Lynda’s Connecticut friends died earlier this month. Surrounded by her family, she died in Vermont because Connecticut does not allow those with terminal illness to access medical aid in dying (MAID), which was what Cathey wanted. Cathey wanted the peace of mind that comes from knowing that she could end her struggle on her own terms. So, she had to move to Vermont which with eight other states and Washington D.C. have all passed death with dignity legislation.

These days Lynda and I talk a lot about Vermont.

During the current Connecticut legislative session, a medical aid in dying bill — SB 88 — will once again be proposed. Last year, a death with dignity bill was passed by the Public Health Committee, referred to the Judiciary Committee, but never advanced any further.

Well, I’m confused and disappointed. I’m confused about how it is that one in five adults in the US live in a state where right now, they have a choice about how and when they die, while Connecticut has, after more than 20 years of proposals, refused to make that possible.

I’m disappointed that a bill supported by 75% of people in this state and most doctors is simply pushed aside year after year after year. I just don’t understand the overriding interest that a few Connecticut legislators have in allowing terminally ill patients to suffer needlessly.

This should not be about politics. We are all going to die and we deserve the right to decide, in consultation with our family and doctors, what care at the end of life we want, including the option of medical aid in dying. In all the years I practiced medicine, I tried my best to relieve suffering and I firmly believe the Representatives and State Senators who support aid in dying are on the right side of medicine, the right side of history and, most importantly, the right side of humanity.

For those who don’t support SB 88, I ask them at least not to stand in the way of the choices of others. Lastly, if you, the readers, are in favor of the passage of SB 88 concerning Medical Aid in Dying, I urge you to call or write your elected State Rep and State Senator and let them know that.

Better still, go to https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_w-svNgPnTo2AOlZum5PrDg to register as a verbal testifier during SB 88’s virtual public hearing on Wednesday, February 23rd or submit written testimony at PHtestimony@cga.ct.gov

Paul Bluestein, MD

Bridgeport