CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The November ballot asks voters to decide on Amendment 1 relating to assisted suicide.
A vote in favor of Amendment 1 enshrines a prohibition against physician-assisted suicide in the state constitution. A vote against would exclude physician assisted from the constitution, and while it would still be against the law, a future legislature could elect to change it.
State Senator and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, is a supporter of the amendment and added language to make it clear if passed it would prevent any future legislature from approving the death penalty. Tarr also said the move would keep activist groups that have passed similar measures in nine states from lobbying the legislature to change the law.
“We want to make sure any future court or legislature understands that this is about one thing and one thing only,” Tarr said. “It is making it constitutionally prohibited to have medically assisted suicide in West Virginia.”
Delegate Patrick McGeehan, R-Hancock, developed the resolution and moved it through the process because he believes physician-assisted suicide, if the law in West Virginia could be abused. The elderly or disabled could begin to feel like a burden in one of their weakest moments and possibly be pushed into making the decision to end their life.
“Once it becomes institutionalized within the law, it begins to be presented by many doctors as a viable health care solution, and when it’s posed like that, it starts to plant a seed of doubt within the patient,” McGeehan said. “It can easily begin to make them feel their life is just not worth living, and that’s not health care; that’s manipulation of our most vulnerable people most of the time in their most fragile moment.”
Vermont has had a similar law for the last 11 years that includes an eight-step process, according to President of Patient Choices Vermont (PCV) Betsy Walkerman. Their law requires a terminal diagnosis from two doctors with a prognosis of six months to live or less. Those patients must be able to make their own decisions and physically able to take their own medicine. She said the law has received positive responses from the medical community and families.
Maine Death with Dignity Executive Director Valerie Lovelace said the measure passed in her state in 2019. The Maine law requires those considering the procedure to have suggested the procedure themselves, must have a terminal illness diagnosis with six months to live, and must be able to make their own decision and take their own medications. She has been the bedside attendant for more than 24 procedures.
“These are probably the most polite moments I have ever had with other human beings,” Lovelace said. “To be able to die in a way that meets your needs and meets the values you have in your life and be surrounded by your family who is ushering you out, I think, is one of the most profound experiences we can have as human beings.”
Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, Mark Brennan, said the procedure would never be condoned by the church. He said a physician-assisted suicide option could add an option that could lower the quality of medical care. Further, it goes against the standard God has set for us to love and cherish our fellow human beings.
“God also gives us the Ten Commandments, such as Thou Shall Not Kill, and it’s not only that we should not kill other people, but we should not kill ourselves,” Brennan said. “Suicide is a withdrawal from the human community when we don’t have to, or we’re not dying, or at the very point of death.”
West Virginians for Life has expressed support for the constitutional amendment, and Mary Tillman of its West Virginia Alliance for Ethical Health Care subcommittee had similar concerns. Tillman wants to act before an activist group or court would intervene and bring the practice to the state.
“If we have this in the state constitution, no law can be past, and the other reason to put it in the constitution is to protect us from any kind of court case that would “find” a right to assisted suicide in our state constitution,” Tillman said. “Our state constitution is silent about this issue, but we don’t want an activist court someday down the road to find such a right in our constitution.”
Polls opens Tuesday morning at 6:30. MetroNews Decision 2024 coverage begins Tuesday night at 7:06.