When most people think about pro-life issues, their thoughts turn immediately to the issue of abortion. However, at the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation we also believe that end of life issues such as euthanasia and assisted suicide are equally important, and we are very active in protecting the Pennsylvania law that prevents assisted suicide. However, recent legislation in New York serves as a reminder that we need to be ever vigilant against assisted suicide in Pennsylvania.

It is important to understand that assisted suicide is really doctor-prescribed suicide. Where assisted suicide has been legalized, there is no assistance. The way it works is a doctor provides his or her patient who has a prognosis of less than 6 months to live with a prescription for a lethal dose of pills. That person then just takes that prescription to their local pharmacist who fills it like any other prescription, puts it in a bag, and wishes them a great day. They then take death home and ingest the pills when they feel like it. There is no oversight…no doctor assisting the patient…there is no assistance at all…just a person who has been given horrible news and a bottle of instant death.

It is also important to understand that the number one reason people give for wanting to commit doctor prescribed suicide is not severe pain as most assisted suicide advocates would have you believe; it is not even a lack of ability to take care of yourself, but it is simply the fear that you will someday not be able to care for yourself anymore. People who are considering suicide don’t need a bunch of pills, what they need is someone to be there for them and help them through a difficult time.

As if doctor prescribed suicide isn’t bad enough, it is only an interim step towards its advocates’ ultimate goal. The main group advocating for these horrible laws is called Compassion and Choices. That all sounds well and good, until you realize that Compassion and Choices is nothing more than the old Hemlock Society rebranded. They are not going to stop with doctor-prescribed suicide, what they really want is euthanasia…the ability for the state to decide that someone’s life isn’t worth continuing and kill them…even if it is against their will. Euthanasia advocates know theirs is not a popular opinion right now, but they also know if they can get people to accept assisted suicide, euthanasia is the next logical step. All you have to do is consider what is going on in Belgium where people are going to other countries for medical care because they are afraid their doctor will decide their life is not worth continuing anymore. Belgians are even wearing bracelets that say “please don’t euthanize me”. If we want to ensure that doesn’t happen in the United States and especially here in Pennsylvania, it starts with preventing assisted suicide laws such as what was recently approved by a New York assembly health committee, and what has been introduced in the Pennsylvania legislature, from becoming law.

To help make sure Pennsylvania does not approve doctor-prescribed suicide, the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation has joined a coalition of like-minded organizations such as disability rights groups and others who are scared to death of the implications of assisted suicide and euthanasia. You can learn more about the Pennsylvania Coalition to Stop Doctor-Prescribed Suicide, and sign up for email updates, at noassistedsuicidePA.org.  Help us show people that no matter what their circumstances, there is always a reason to choose life.