Burlington Free Press

My Turn: Vermonters ready to have death with dignity

By Monica Knorr • November 16, 2008

On Nov. 4, while most of us were paying close attention to the presidential and Vermont elections, the people of Washington state took a huge step forward. By a wide margin in a popular vote, they enacted the Washington Death with Dignity Act, the second patient-directed dying law in the United States.

Washingtonians have now protected the decisions of the terminally ill and given them the peace of mind that comes from knowing that they will remain in control at the end of their lives. Voters delivered a compassionate option to those dying from certain terminal diseases who can end their unnecessary suffering and have a peaceful, dignified death.

The public debate in Washington was very similar to what occurred in Vermont in 2007, when the Legislature considered our own patient-directed dying law. Both states could see that the success of this law in Oregon rested not only with the peace of mind for those who use or contemplate the use of the law, but in other end-of-life care successes. Since the law went into effect over a decade ago, Oregon has become a national leader in hospice utilization, palliative care and treatment of pain at the end of life.

The debate in both states was also full of scare tactics and unfounded allegations that attempted to obscure the true purposes of the law. Opponents recited the same disproven anecdotes and leveled the same baseless accusations in Washington as they did here in Vermont.

The one thing that Vermonters and Washingtonians do not share on this issue, however, is the ability to let the people speak directly on this issue. In Vermont, we do not have citizen initiatives; in Washington, they do. Many polls have shown that a strong majority of Vermonters support having this choice, yet the bill narrowly failed in the Legislature.

It was much easier for the vocal opposition to hijack the debate among 180 lawmakers. Still, there were many lawmakers who did cast their vote on behalf of the majority of Vermonters -- and the bill nearly passed. Yet the chilling effect of that vocal minority opposition kept some lawmakers from voting yes. Washingtonians, on the other hand, were able to choose for themselves, saw through the opposition's scare tactics, and gave individuals the freedom and choices to make responsible end-of-life decisions.

We should have respect for all people of faith, even those whose faith system does not allow them to support aid-in-dying. But we cannot allow religious leaders to put their religious beliefs in place of what should be a secular government. The separation of church and state has never been more needed than here, when people are making personal decisions about their own end-of-life care.

No person, no institution has a monopoly on the truth. No government or politician should have the right to decide for you how much suffering you have to endure. No matter what your faith, no organized hierarchy should limit your personal freedom to decide your own end-of-life care.

At its core, this law is about how people are going to live out their last days. As Vermonters, we have a long tradition of respecting each others' ability to make up our own minds and not imposing our views on them. Patient-directed-dying legislation does just that for the most personal of decisions; it gives each of us the space to choose for ourselves. Listen to Vermonters -- we're ready.

Monica Knorr of Manchester is president of Patient Choices at End of Life Vermont, an organization dedicated to promoting optimum end-of-life care for Vermonters.