This could be big.

This effort is misguided and has the potential to end up like other bad policies on this topic (see MAID in Canada where the current implementation will soon allow for those with mental illness alone to request their own death).

It’s understandable to want to reduce the suffering of loved ones. Hospice care is designed for people with terminal illness of 6mo or less and can greatly reduce suffering. If we want to improve the dignity of those dying, I’d suggest we make sure our hospice system is adequately funded and properly implemented to help those in need. One of the issues that comes up with MAID in Canada is that people are worried about cost of care at end of life. That should never be a concern for those that are dying.

I used to be 100% for assisted death but then I had a conversation with a disability justice organizer that really made me nuance my way of thinking. She said that unless we have tax-funded healthcare that is free or low cost at point of service, some folks that may otherwise want to stick around might choose this to not leave their families with huge medical debt (assuming surgeries/hospital stays/hospice costs more than what this procedure would). There are a multitude of reasons as to why someone may or may not want to end their life, but cost should not be one.

Scrolled past this...

Yeah, I'm still in favor of this because I think it moves society to a generally better place if we allow people die quickly with dignity without stretching it out and suffering but, between existing inequities in our system, and concern about potential for abuse, there's a lot of pieces that need to put into place and fixed before we're anywhere close to an ideal

Only in America were someone be like just kill me because i don't want to leave my family in debt for years.

Why shouldn’t people with untreatable mental illness have the same option as people with untreatable physical illness?

That’s literally happening in Canada right now with their MAiD program. People are choosing to end their lives early because they are worried about medical debts and some providers may encourage MAiD over hospice because hospice is more expensive.

Wait a sec; Isn't Canada's Model a single payer system that's funded by the taxpayer?

Single payer doesn’t mean that everything is covered.

You can read about the issue here: https://www.thedailybeast.com/canadas-health-care-woes-are-pushing-people-with-disabilities-toward-medically-assisted-death

Yes, which goes to show you its not a blanket solution and even Canada struggles with affordability of their healthcare program, which is why they expanded MAID to include people with mental illness because it's cheaper for the government to kill them then support them

It’s not only money though. A lot of people will feel guilty about being a time burden on their family with all the caregiving, rides to appointments etc

Fuck just terminal patients let us all have the option! I’ve been done with this shit

I think they should put a suicide booth in every Emergency room in the country. The caveat is that they are only powered by 10 Sacagawea dollar coins. Only people who have seriously contemplated their situation and choices will have the time and energy to track down 10 Sacagaweas

absolutely horrible that this happens in this day an age.

I don't think it will happen in RI, because the Catholic church will oppose it for sure. And, there are a lot of them here.

I appreciate the empathy but in these cases we cant let the perfect be the enemy of the good by waiting until everything is in place. There are diseases that deliver a fate worse than death, and its haunting when you know somebody going through it or who went through it. Theres a peace of mind in knowing that if my existence was reduced to a living hell I have a legal escape.

Totally agree

I don't think it works that way. The family wouldn't be in debt for years or at all.

"Generally, the deceased person's estate is responsible for paying any unpaid debts. When a person dies, their assets pass to their estate. If there is no money or property left, then the debt generally will not be paid. Generally, no one else is required to pay the debts of someone who died."

Source: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/does-a-persons-debt-go-away-when-they-die-en-1463/