Is Assisted Death "Rebranding Euthenasia?"

A widow writes about her opposition to assisted death:

Hope inspired us to try standard and experimental treatments to combat J.J.’s cancer. Those treatments extended his life beyond the initial four-month prognosis to three and a half years. If we had relied on the initial prognosis, given in to the depression and given up on hope, we would have missed out on so very much. Our oldest son, James, would never have gotten to know his father; our youngest son, Lucas, would never have been born.

Getting through his darkest moments and the temptation to despair made J.J. realize that assisted suicide presents a very real risk for terminally ill patients like him. J.J. and I resolved to fight efforts to legalize assisted suicide, laws that prey on terminally ill patients when they are most vulnerable. Assisted suicide is legal in seven states and Washington, D.C. This is a tragedy, and one we can prevent.

J.J. served as president of the Patients Rights Action Fund, an organization that works on behalf of patients to oppose legalizing assisted suicide. We dedicated the last years of J.J.’s life to this because we recognized the "death with dignity" movement for what it is: a well-funded rebranding of euthanasia offering nothing but a message of hopelessness.

If our experience taught us anything, it is to hold on to hope for yourself and for others around you, especially in the face of life-threatening illness. You could be improving their lives, as well as your own.

Letter-writers responses (excerpts):

It’s a blessing to have that possibility for terminal patients, especially those who have immense pain. It galls me when people want to take that option away from others, just because they find it wrong. What works for others may not be feasible for you. We can make up our own minds.

Death with dignity isn’t for everyone. In fact, a very small percentage of terminally ill patients choose to use it. Often, the angels of hospice can keep dying patients comfortable until a disease runs its course. But death with dignity should remain a choice for those who wish to use it. The Hansons should not be allowed to limit the choices of others.