Talking Points

---Reasons to Oppose Physician Assisted Suicide---

Perverse Financial Incentives

Assisted suicide gives insurance companies and governments the ability to save money by pushing lethal drugs that are less expensive than treatment. This has happened in Oregon and California where patients were refused coverage of life-saving treatment and offered lethal drugs instead.

One of the founders of the assisted suicide movement, Derek Humphry, stated “….economics , not the question of broadened liberties or increased autonomy, will drive assisted suicide to the plateau of acceptable practice.”
Canadian officials estimated that assisted suicide and euthanasia could reduce annual spending by between $34.7 million and $138.8 million compared to $1.5 million to $14.8 million spent on lethal drugs.

Mental Health

Only 66 (4%) of the 1,657 patients who died by assisted suicide in Oregon since its legalization in 1998 were referred for psychiatric evaluation.

Pain is Not the Issue

Inadequate pain control is not among the top five reasons patients in Oregon and Washington request lethal drugs.

Inaccurate Morality Predictions

A six-month prognosis for death is extremely difficult to predict accurately, with many patients living far beyond the six months. A major study of physician prognoses in Chicago revealed that of 468 predictions, only 20% were accurate in predicting when death would occur. In another study, “No group accurately predicted the length of patient survival more than 50% of the time.”

Lethal Drugs not Limited to the Dying

Patients who are not dying may receive lethal drugs. The definition of terminal illness under assisted suicide laws includes patients who refuse treatment and might live for many years, and diabetes has been listed as a reason someone received lethal drugs.

Higher Suicide Rates in States with Assisted Suicide

A CDC report reveals that from 1999-2010, suicide among those aged 35-64 increased 49% in Oregon as compared to a 28% increase nationally.

Risk of Coercion

No trained medical personnel are required to be present at the time the lethal drugs are taken or at the time of death, creating the opportunity for an heir or abusive caregiver to coerce the patient to take the deadly drugs or put them in the patient’s food without the patient’s knowledge or consent.

New York Biomedical Roundtable

New York Biomedical Roundtable

Talking Points

---Reasons to Oppose Physician Assisted Suicide---

Perverse Financial Incentives

Mental Health

Pain is Not the Issue

Inaccurate Morality Predictions

Lethal Drugs not Limited to the Dying

Higher Suicide Rates in States with Assisted Suicide

Risk of Coercion

Reading Material

Learn More:

Pending Legislation

These are pending New York bills which would legalize PAS.

Key Stats From Above 2023 Canadian Report

3,399

3,399

3,399

431

3,399

3,399

432

3,399

432

Other Resources

Other organizations with which to connect:

New York Biomedical Roundtable

New York Biomedical Roundtable

Talking Points

---Reasons to Oppose Physician Assisted Suicide---

Perverse Financial Incentives

Mental Health

Pain is Not the Issue

Inaccurate Morality Predictions

Lethal Drugs not Limited to the Dying

Higher Suicide Rates in States with Assisted Suicide

Risk of Coercion

Reading Material

Learn More:

Pending Legislation

These are pending New York bills which would legalize PAS.

Key Stats From Above 2023 Canadian Report

3,399

3,399

3,399

431

3,399

3,399

432

3,399

432

Other Resources

Other organizations with which to connect:

This website uses cookies.