I was thinking of calling this post “NH passes up chance for new motto: ‘Live free and die’.” Earlier this week the New Hampshire House Judiciary Committee voted against a proposed bill that would legalize euthanasia in the state by allowing terminally ill patients to obtain lethal prescriptions. The margin wasn’t even close — 14 against legalizing euthanasia and three in favour. State Rep. Nancy Elliott said, “It’s not the function of government to encourage suicide.”
This reminds me of something that disabilities activist Mark Pickup said to me in an interview in 1998 or 1999 (and I’m quoting from memory): “If you feel like killing yourself, Paul, society will try to prevent you from acting out your desire. They set up suicide hotlines and will do everything it can to help you see that life is worth living. But if I want to kill myself, society is eager to help me die.”
Something to think about.
