D.C. Passes Bill Allowing Assisted Suicide for the Terminally Ill

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In an 11-2 vote, the Washington, D.C. Council has approved the “Death with Dignity Act”—legislation that would physicians to prescribe fatal drugs to terminally ill patients who live in the city. Washington is now the sixth jurisdiction in the country to legalize such prescriptions.

A spokesman for Mayor Muriel E. Bowser said he “expects the bill to become law.” The council must hold another vote on the bill on or after Nov. 15. The legislation is modeled after the 1997 Oregon law, which was written to assist dying patients who were suffering unnecessarily in their last days. Read more at THE WASHINGTON POST.

{Matzav.com}


6 COMMENTS

  1. Who are they to decide when death is allowed?

    G-do should be the only one who ends life because he’s the one that put all of us I’ll or we’ll on earth.

  2. Regarding attempts to pass “Death with Dignity” legislation:

    The chiyuv (Torah injunction) of “Lo sa’amod al dam re’echa”, obligates everyone to do what he

    or she can, to help prevent assisted suicide and/or euthanasia.

    Allowing the legalization of “assisted suicide”, even if this particular law in practice would only

    result in assisting a suicide and not euthanasia, is to allow shefichas-domim (bloodshed).

    Furthermore even rendering such actions not being subject to prosecution, is allowing shefichas-
    domim (bloodshed), al achas kama vekama (how much more so), in cases of assisted suicide

    leading to euthanasia.

    This obligation would include:

    1) Voting on the basis of this issue. Thus, when voting for any public official, this issue must

    be considered as top priority, certainly overriding financial considerations, government

    programs, etc. By voting for people who support these laws, we become accountable for

    their actions. This ruling would still apply even if these laws were to be passed, we would

    still be forbidden to vote for legislators who voted for these laws. This is the most

    important way to fulfill our obligation.

    2) Urging one’s legislators to vote against these bills, if and when they arise[1] and to urge

    the governor to veto such bill, were it to pass the legislature.

    3) Helping in efforts to repeal such laws, in areas[2] where such legislation was already

    passed.

    Even a few votes can make a major difference, both by legislators and the public—sometimes the

    vote of a single legislator can decide the fate of these laws—as is evidenced by the recent vote in

    the New Jersey State Assembly (in November 2014), where an assisted suicide bill was passed

    by just one vote. We have seen in several recent races in Jewish neighborhoods, that even a

    handful of votes can make the difference in the outcome of the election[3]

    . Furthermore, some

    legislators keep track of the calls that are made to their offices on particular controversial issues,

    and vote according to their results.

    May the Creator of all life grace us with the merit to save innocent lives, fulfilling our role as an or

    legoyim (light onto the nations). In that merit, may we help usher in the Final Redemption by

    Moshiach Tzidkeinu.

    Rabbonim are listed alphabetically.

    Eliyahu Ben-Haim Boruch Hirschfeld Dovid Ribiat

    RIETS/Kehillah Yotzei Mashad Ahavas Yisroel, Cleveland mechaber “The 39 Melochos” <

    Haim Benoliel Yosef Meir Kantor Yosef Yitzchok Rosenfeld

    Bnai Yosef/Mikdash Melech Cong. Agudath Israel of Monsey Monsey Dometz

    Gad Bouskila Yeshaye Gedalye Kaufman Chaim Schabes

    Netivot Israel Hisachdus Moretz, Kruleh Dometz Knesses Yisroel

    Yitzchok M. Braun Amram Klein Moshe Silberberg

    Shaaray Zion Ungvar Shuvu/mechaber “Zichron Tzvi Meir”

    Shlomo Breslauer Shloime Ben Zion Kokis Moshe Soloveitchik

    Bais Tefiloh Zichron Mordechai Chicago

    Eliyahu Brog Grainom Lazewnik Yitzchok Sorotzkin

    Bais Yisroel Khal Adar Gbir Mesivta of Lakewood

    Yitzchok Cohen Shmuel Miller Tzvi Steinberg

    Yeshiva University RIETS Yeshiva Bais Yisroel Kahal Zera Avraham, Denver

    Menachem Fisher Avrohom Yaakov Nelkenbaum Shlomo Stern

    Vien Monsey Mirrer Yeshiva Debreciner Rov

    Noson Yermia Goldstein Yechiel Perr Boruch Hersh Waldman

    mechaber of “Migdalos Noson” Yeshiva of Far Rockaway Siach Yitzchok, Suffern

    Shmuel Gorelick Avrohom Reich Moshe Weissman

    Mesivta Ohel Torah Hatzolas Yisroel Ohel Moshe

    Moshe Green Gavriel Zinner

    Yeshivah D'Monsey Nitei Gavriel

    Institutions are listed for identification purposes only.

  3. Doctor Assisted Suicide is a euphemism for Doctor Assisted Homicide
    ‘Right to Die’ is a euphemism for Right To Kill

    We proclaim Dignity of life, so they came up with Death With Dignity

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