Commentary

Make ‘Em Suffer, I Say

By William A. Collins

Hope is gone,

No need to lie;

Time at last,

To help me die.

In church the other day, our pastor led us in a discussion of dying. Not a wild idea, given our average age. We roamed over aspects of proper preparation, family responsibilities, spiritual peace, living wills, and other items that seniors all ought to be contemplating. Naturally, if we wanted to leave a little something to the church, that would be OK too.

Where the discussion got a mite sticky was on assisted suicide. It seems our denomination (Methodist) is against it, as are most organized religions. But pastors, who must daily assuage the sufferings of approaching death, aren’t quite so sure. The Lord’s wishes seem murkier when applied to parishioners who can’t swallow, control their bowels, talk, or enjoy any normal aspects of human dignity.

But if help with dying is a thorny issue for those in the business, it’s been less troubling for those who make the rules. Connecticut so far takes a stern view of anyone who would assist another in ending life. If convicted, you simply go to jail.

Most other legislatures (44) have taken the same position. Who can tell how lawmakers may feel in their hearts, but with all organized religion on one side, and voters who will not live until the next election on the other, this is not an issue that lends itself to reform.

Luckily a few legislators are game nonetheless. Rep Mike Lawlor and Sen George Jepsen have been stalwart, but their issue does not, in legislative parlance, have legs. It’s still not clear where all their colleagues stand, since there have been no recent votes.

With our congressmen there is less doubt. At the urging of Judiciary Chairman Henry Hyde, the House passed a bill to effectively overturn the 1997 Oregon referendum that legalized assisted suicide. Thus our six members are each on record. Five opposed Hyde and vainly voted to protect Oregon. Jim Maloney, struggling for reelection, did not.

Fortunately the Senate has not taken up the issue. That’s lucky, because both Senators Dodd and Lieberman have announced their zeal to overrule Oregon voters. Apparently such an act would also overrule Connecticut voters, since several polls have shown Nutmeggers consistently favor physician aid in dying as an option for the terminally ill. It’s just that the General Assembly hasn’t got around to reflecting our wishes yet.

This year it’s Maine’s turn. Their legislature hasn’t got around to reflecting their voters’ wishes yet either, though 70 percent currently favor having assisted suicide available. Hence voters there have taken matters into their own hands. They petitioned a referendum to legalize it. It’s on the November ballot, and the Catholic Church is spending heavily in opposition.

So far, though, Oregon remains the only state with an operating law. In 1998, 15 people used it. In 1999, 27. All had health insurance, and 21 were already in hospice care. Most were well-educated, elderly cancer patients. Each made a conscious, informed decision. We wish Maine luck in providing its residents the same opportunity, and hope that Connecticut lawmakers will take the hint soon.

(Columnist William A. Collins is a former state representative and a former mayor of Norwalk.)