Senate votes to study end of life options

On Thursday, February 11 the Senate voted in a favor of SB 426, a bill to study end-of-life choices, particularly physician-assisted suicide.

The House and Senate passed a similar bill in 2015, but Gov. Hassan vetoed that bill because the proposed study commission only included legislators.  

SB 426 includes representatives from the medical community, the legal community, and the religious community.  

Five states, including Vermont, allow some kind of physician-assisted suicide. Maine and Massachusetts have both debated bills to allow physician-assisted suicide.    

Supporters of SB 426 argue that New Hampshire residents should also have the opportunity to debate physician-assisted suicide, whether or not the commission ultimately proposes a bill.

"It is time for New Hampshire to have a commission that can take a closer look at end-of-life choices through thoughtful and considered dialogue, study, and debate," testified Sen. Martha Fuller Clark.

Opponents of physician-assisted suicide argue that the state should not even contemplate legal suicide.

Speaking in opposition to the 2015 bill, Rep. Gary Hopper wrote, "we believe that this issue has been studied at great length in many places around this country and there is no need for New Hampshire to pay for a study, too."  

Do you think New Hampshire should study end-of-life choices, particularly physician-assisted suicide?  Comment below!