Doctor-prescribed suicide draws ire

BOSTON, Mass (WWLP) - John Kelly was 25-years-old when he got into a near-death accident that injured his spinal cord and left him disabled.

“I went through situational depression and it was a traumatic experience,” said Kelly.

But Kelly said he got the help and counseling he needed to build confidence in himself and realize he could do many things with his life without the use of his legs and most of his body.  Today he is the director of Second Thoughts, an organization that champions rights for disabled persons.  “I’m so glad now that no one was suggesting that suicide might be a possibility for me,” said Kelly.

Which is why Kelly is concerned about that possibility being presented to other accident-victims in situations similar to his own.  Massachusetts voters will be poised to answer a ballot question in November 2012 that allows physicians to prescribe life-ending drugs to terminally ill patients.

Mark Carron, a former state legislator, said terminal illness is never absolutely certain.  “There’s been examples of people who, thank god this provision wasn’t before them, who were told they had six months to live – And they’re here six and seven and ten years, sometimes longer afterwards.”

Opponents also worry about abuse.  Steve Higgins, the executive director of Independence Associates, a group that helps with independent living services for people with disabilities, fears the possibility of a person being manipulated into requesting doctor-prescribed life ending drugs, especially when they aren’t administered by a physician, but by anyone.

“In fact it could be a family member or it could be someone else that assists that person,” said Higgins.  “Well that could be a person that has a significant interest.”

The Massachusetts Medical Society said it opposes physician-assisted suicide, but supports alleviating pain and suffering for end-of-life patients.  They have not taken a position on the ballot question.