Vermonters Speak Out
Letters and Op-Eds from all over the state
Writing this personal letter has been a painful task in many ways, but we are sharing it in the hope that our story will help others. more
by Sue (Ford) LaGue and Noel W. Ford, The Chronicle, Barton, VT. January 16, 2008.
'Dr. Death' served us all
What has Jack Kevorkian, now that he has been released after eight years in prison for murder, actually accomplished?
In 1998, he openly dared Michigan to put him in prison for ending the life of a suffering person, and the state did just that. His detractors say he flouted the laws of our society and forced the state to punish him for his deeds. His supporters say he did all of us a service by pointing out what he thought was the right of a dying, suffering person to have autonomy over the manner and timing of death. In doing so, he brought this matter to the acute attention of the public in a way that no one had done before. more
by Sidney Wanzer, M.D., USA Today. June 6, 2007.
Dr. Wanzer is co-author of To Die Well.
Twelve letters appeared in the Burlington Free Press between May 30 and June 7, 2007, in response to "Rate Your Legislature." Read them here.
Maria Walsh wrote the following prophetic letter as well as one published on June 26; she died on July 8, 2007.
Liz Jeffords supported death with dignity
Your April 14 article on the Liz Jeffords' death did not mention that she died of starvation as reported in the Rutland Herald. It took three weeks. more
by Maria Walsh, Burlington Free Press. April 26, 2007.
Vermont deserves credit for debate
The Vermont Legislature deserves our sincere thanks for allowing the conversation and debate to occur around the Patient Choice and Control at the End of Life Act.
Special thanks and respect are due to members of the House Human Services and Judiciary Committees, who patiently studied... more
by Dick Walters, Bennington Banner. April 6, 2007.
Death with dignity no social experiment
I absolutely, vehemently disagree with your editorial March 23 and your stance on the "death with dignity" bill, just defeated in the Vermont Legislature. Your view is that the bill would "allow doctors to become an active participant in a patient's suicide." I think of it as doctors acting with compassion to help a person in agony, with no quality of life left. more
by Julia Blake. Burlington Free Press. April 3, 2007.
End-of-life issue needs Legislature
The Burlington Free Press editorial on Feb. 25 had it exactly backward when it wrote that a recent Zogby International poll about end-of-life issues was misleading. more
My Turn Op-ed by Dick Walters, Burlington Free Press, March 2, 2007.
I'll be a sponsor of death with dignity bill
During the 2005-06 session, the Legislature was asked to consider a highly controversial bill allowing physicians to prescribe life-ending drugs to terminally ill patients more
By Representative Rick Hube in Bennington Banner, Rutland Herald and other papers, January 2007.
Bring death out of the closet
...
Passage of this legislation will ... provide immeasurable peace of mind to the hundreds of Vermonters suffering in the final stages of incurable and irreversible illnesses... more
By David Babbott, M.D., Burlington Free Press, February 7, 2007.
Individuals have right to die
I first heard a patient with advanced ovarian cancer plead with me to help her die when I was a young doctor... more
By Jackson B. Beecham, M.D.,
Burlington Free Press, February 5, 2007.
Death and dying a part of life
...
acknowledge the inevitability of dying, and in doing so provide, when the time comes, a better death; one which will supply a full measure of caring support and most importantly, respond to the wishes of the dying patient (the mantra of Hospice care)...more
My Turn Op-ed by Diana Barnard, M.D., Burlington Free Press, January 27, 2007.
Ten letters appeared in the Burlington Free Press
under this headline:
End of life: Most readers want a choice
Published Sunday, January 14, 2007
Written by
MELINDA L. MOULTON,
Huntington
JUDY KELLY,
Burlington
JOAN BENNEYAN,
Brattleboro
THOMAS P. McKENNA,
Montpelier
MARIE LUHR,
Charlotte
JOAN HARLOWE,
East Burke
ROBERT RIVERSONG,
Warren
ALICE BERNINGHAUSEN,
Cornwall
MARY P. LeCHEVALIER,
Morristown
BARBARA MERZ,
Middlebury
From the Valley Reporter
November 30, 2006
Death with dignity
...I watched my beloved husband suffer with a disease for which there was no cure. He struggled with every effortful breath... more
by Janice Barnard, Waitsfield.
From the Burlington Free Press
Published January 17, 2007
Death with dignity has proven safeguards
I would like to go on record as strongly supporting the death with dignity bill, ...more
by Dieter W. Gump, M.D., South Burlington.
From the Burlington Free Press
Published December 3, 2006
End-of-life care needs resolution
Legislation allowing Vermonters the choice to direct their end-of-life care
is long overdue. The time has come...more
by Denise Connally, Berlin.
Death should be personal choice
I'm writing to express my support for The Death With Dignity movement in Vermont. As a practicing RN for many years, I have had first hand experience with death and dying ...more
by Nicky Ford, R.N., Enosburg.
Death is most important civil right
...I lean toward calling it: "patient/individual directed care."... more
by Corwin Sharp, Woodstock.
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