Laws that would allow doctors to prescribe life-ending medication to terminally ill patients are being considered once again in Michigan.House Democrats unveiled a package of bills last month to create a “Death with Dignity Act,” following a similar effort in the previous term by Senate Democrats to legalize physician-assisted death in the state.Similar laws cover more than 100 million Americans in 14 states. State Rep. Carrie Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor, a co-sponsor of the House package, said the bills would bring “more medical choice” to patients.“The point … is not to shorten somebody’s life. It’s actually to shorten somebody’s death process,” Rheingans told Bridge Michigan.The bills have been referred to the House Government Operations Committee, a move that shows Republican leadership isn’t interested in taking up the legislation, Rheingans said. With her party in the minority, she said her caucus has more time to devote to education and advocacy.
House Republicans like state Rep. Matthew Bierlein, R-Vassar, oppose the legislation, calling it a morally questionable “fringe proposal” that lacks the buy-in of health care professionals.
1 MIN READ
3 MIN READ
1 MIN READ
