Massachusetts assisted suicide bill dies in committee.

John Kelly (Second Thoughts)

The following article was published by Second Thoughts Massachusetts on June 30, 2016

The Joint Committee On Public Health has declined to advance the latest assisted suicide bill, H 1991, euphemistically titled “An act affirming a terminally ill patient’s right to compassionate aid in dying.” 

Congratulations to all the disability rights advocates and allies who worked against the bill.
Thank you to the state legislature, which for the fifth time in seven years rejected an assisted suicide bill. 

A special thank you to Somerville Rep. Denise Provost, who campaigned for us as a matter of social justice. 

The committee and public heard from disability disability rights advocates through personal visits, a legislative briefing sponsored by Rep. Provost, and irrefutable testimony at the October 2015 hearing. 

Influential advocacy came from grassroots groups including the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), Boston Disability Commission, Disability Policy Consortium, Mass ADAPT, MPOWER, and Second Thoughts MA. Other disability-led organizations remained in opposition. The Massachusetts Medical Society and other medical groups continued their opposition.