VAEH Newsletter #32
April 6, 2005
Hi Folks,
Well, it’s crunch-time-2005 in relation to PAS in
Vermont. When the House Human Services Committee had not taken up
H-168, the “Death With Dignity” bill, by the end of March, several
of us thought it would not become an issue during the 2005 legislative session. However,
Chairperson Ann Pugh announced a few days ago that the committee would take
testimony and have committee discussion all next week, April 12-15. I
am preparing formal testimony from VAEH to be given at a committee meeting. The
schedule includes an evening of public testimony on Tuesday, April 12. The
hearing will begin at 7:00PM in one of the large rooms at the Statehouse
in Montpelier, but those who plan to testify (see below) should be there
by 6:15-6:30 to sign up.
I must once again ask for your help. Please do one
or more of the following in the next week:
- Please CONTACT COMMITTEE MEMBERS. If you haven’t done
so recently, please call, write, e-mail or speak personally with the
members of the House Human Services Committee (contact info below)
to express your opposition to H-168. A few committee members
have already taken a stand in opposition; a few support the bill; and
some are undecided. ALL need to hear your concerns. Numbers
of contacts are important, even if only a one sentence note of opposition. Better
yet, a short, concise, civil note expressing one or more of the reasons
for your opposition (see below). Ask your like-minded friends
to make contacts also. Seriously --- forward this e-mail to friends
who you know oppose this bill.
- Plan to ATTEND THE PUBLIC HEARING to lend support and encouragement
to those who testify. Numbers of individuals who show up is very
important. The retired folks from Wake Robin who are pushing
this bill will predictably be there in significant numbers. It
is very important that we show the Human Services Committee that there
are substantial numbers who care enough about this issue to give up
an evening to show their opposition.
- Better yet, please be willing to TESTIFY AT THE PUBLIC HEARING. I
realize it is a big sacrifice to give up several hours for travel and
sitting in order to speak for 2 minutes. But it is so important. Many
of you showed up at the public hearing held last year on “end-of-life
care in Vermont” and spoke eloquently. You may think “I
already did that last year so I don’t feel obligated to go again.” However,
last year’s Health and Welfare Committee held only a public hearing
without committee discussion, and supposedly it was to address EOL
care (you may recall that Dr. Byock and I were asked by the chair to
speak only about that and were asked not to mention PAS). This
year, the hearing is on PAS and is accompanied by serious committee
deliberation time. This is a far bigger hurdle.
- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR would also help establish the breadth and depth
of concern among Vermonters on this issue.
Suggestions for your contacts or testimony:
- PAS is not needed. Patients already have to
right to stop any life-prolonging treatment they no longer want. Good
palliative care and hospice methods can alleviate the symptoms and
provide the needed support at the end of life.
- The reason for use of PAS in Oregon is not pain,
but desire for control.
- Experience has shown abuses, complications, and
expansions of criteria where PAS has been legalized.
- There are too many unanswered questions about
the Oregon experience.
- It would place vulnerable Vermonters at risk
of pressure to request PAS --- the elderly, the infirm, individuals
with disabilities.
- We should first provide access to healthcare
for everyone in Vermont, with special focus on the physical, social,
psychological and spiritual needs of individuals with chronic and
life-threatening illnesses.
- Real death with dignity is excellent whole-person
care at the end of life. The proposed “Death With Dignity” bill
would place a societal stamp of approval on suicide.
- Official statements of opposition have been expressed
by healthcare professionals, suicide prevention advocates, disability
rights advocates, pro-life advocates and religious leaders from
diverse faith traditions in Vermont.
- Other resources and information at the vaeh website
(www.vaeh.org)
Contact information for members of the House Human Services
Committee:
Representative Ann D. Pugh; D; Chair
67 Bayberry Lane;
South Burlington,
VT 05403
863-6705
UVM, Dept. of Social Work
656-8800
apugh@leg.state.vt.us
Representative Michael Fisher; D; , Vice-Chair
364 Cobb Hill Road;
Lincoln, VT 05443
453-5517
Addison County Parent Child Center;
Box 646;
Middlebury, VT
05753
388-3171
mfisher@leg.state.vt.us
Representative Anne B. Donahue; R
148 Donahue Drive; Northfield, VT 05663; 485-6431
adonahue@leg.state.vt.us
counterp@tds.net
Representative William R. Frank; D
19 Poker Hill Rd; Underhill, VT 05489
899-3136
WFrank@leg.state.vt.us
Representative Patsy French; D
886 Harlow Hill; Randolph, VT 05060
728-9421
pfrench@leg.state.vt.us
Representative Stephen Green; D
242 Rowell Hill Rd; Berlin, VT 05602
223-6670
SGreen@leg.state.vt.us
sjgreen@sover.net
Representative Sandy Haas; P
P.O. Box 25; Rochester, VT 05767
767-4751
SHass@leg.state.vt.us
shass@sover.net
Representative Thomas F. Koch; R
326 Lowery Road; Barre (Town), VT 05641
479-2688
Bernasconi & Koch P.C.; P.O. Box 892; Barre 05641
476-4141
tkoch@leg.state.vt.us
Representative Clint
Martin; D
903 French Meadow Road; Springfield, VT 05156
886-8470
cmartin@leg.state.vt.us
ctm@vermontel.com
Representative Norman H. McAllister; R
712 Hanna Road; Franklin, VT 05457
285-6363
nmcallister@leg.state.vt.us
Representative Katherine R. Niquette; R
64 Ford Lane; Colchester, VT 05446
865-2180
KNiquette@leg.state.vt.us
RennNiquette@aol.com
Bob Orr
President, VAEH
