Emotional pleas offered for and against assisted-suicide bill
Feb. 7—CONCORD — Adam Leiser of Madison said his wife, Jennifer, 42, lost 50 pounds while she wasted away with cancer, asking in vain for physicians to end the suffering before her death in March 2019.
"She couldn't eat; she couldn't drink. There was zero chance of her surviving, none, and she had to sit there begging the doctors to make it go quicker," Leiser said, testifying for legislation that would have New Hampshire join 10 other states and the District of Columbia where assisted suicide is legal.
"The reality is nobody should die the way my wife did, at 85 pounds."
Armand Soucy, chaplain for the New Hampshire Veterans Advisory Committee, said the state should not sanction the voluntary end of anyone's life.
"Suicide is a one-person thing; assisted suicide is technically murder," Soucy told the House Judiciary Committee.
"I can do it myself. The state does not have to assist us; suicide does not need help," said Soucy, whose nephew killed himself after returning home from military service in Iraq.
State Rep. Marjorie Smith, D-Durham, said her bill (HB 1283) was carefully written to apply to only those who are terminally ill, mentally competent and able on their own to take the drugs to end their lives.
"As compared with legislation in other states, this is a very conservative bill," Smith said at a news conference promoting the measure.
Steven Wade, executive director of the New Hampshire Brain Injury Association, said legalizing this option would create a slippery slope, noting that other states have expanded this access to other individuals, including disabled residents.
"We also question whether this will hurt our ability to get funding for palliative care, which isn't supported that well in New Hampshire," Wade said.
Both sides appeared more organized in their advocacy than in past years, when New Hampshire lawmakers rejected similar proposals.
The New Hampshire Alliance for End of Life Options convinced both liberal and conservative Republican House members to co- author this cause.
"This is about body autonomy, and I will be damned the government will not let me have control over my body," said Rep. Emily Phillips, R-Fremont.
The bill is opposed by the New Hampshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention, which includes the New Hampshire Hospital Association, Catholic Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital, Catholic Charities Inc. and the Strategies for Disability Equity.
"I see a bill like this and think wow — we are going to create an option where we are going to move to end of life very quickly," said Dr. John Ettinger, a cardiologist at Catholic Medical Center who spoke for himself, though he's president of the New Hampshire Board of Medicine.
Ken Norton of Tilton, former chief executive with the National Alliance on Mental Illness in New Hampshire, said critics falsely equate the reasoned decisions of those in excruciating pain with others who, because of mental illness or other reasons, commit suicide.
"Determining any causal effect between aid in dying and suicide is unrealistic," Norton said.
Brian Lombardo, a physician with the Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in Lebanon, said he worked with nine patients who used Vermont's Medical Assistance in Dying Law, including two New Hampshire residents.
"They have found this to be an incredible form of solace to their souls," Lombardo said.
Bob Dunn, director of public policy with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester, urged lawmakers to see what he called the "flashing warning red lights" in this bill.
"I would urge you to heed the advice the American Red Cross give to people in burning buildings. Never open a door that is warm to the touch," Dunn said.
Rep. Smith said she is confident the closely divided House of Representatives will approve this bill.
Only one of the 24 state senators, Sen. Debra Altschiller, D-Stratham, has agreed to sign onto it, however.
