We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who took the time to testify in opposition to HB2505/SB1486, the Physician-Assisted Suicide Bills, at yesterday’s public hearing at the State House in Boston. There was a strong pro-life showing that included a broad coalition of activists on this issue. Many courageous voices sent a clear message to Massachusetts lawmakers that they should respect the sanctity of life and protect vulnerable people from indifference, prejudice, and psychological and financial pressure to end their lives.
MFI’s Kent Scott and Sam Whiting offered compelling testimony in opposition to the bills.
Kent asserted that assisted suicide is wrong because it fails to offer heartfelt support and nurture to those who are suffering. He shared the personal story of his father, who is currently in hospice care, and highlighted how his father, like so many others in similar situations, deserves better than being pressured into ending his life. As Kent powerfully stated, “The solution to suffering is not to eliminate the sufferer. It is to come alongside them in love and to minister to their deepest needs; their needs for true care and compassion.”
In his powerful testimony, Sam took issue with a misleading poll often cited by supporters of the bills, which claims that 80% of Massachusetts residents favor “medical aid in dying.” Sam pointed out that the poll’s wording was intentionally deceptive, asking if people would support a bill allowing terminally ill, mentally sound adults to take medication to die peacefully. This description, he argued, made it sound like a compassionate option, but in reality, it was about physician-assisted suicide. He contended that if the poll had accurately described the bills as promoting suicide, the results would likely have been very different. Sam also highlighted that the latest version of the bills would allow state-collected data on assisted suicide to be exempt from public records laws, raising concerns about transparency. He concluded by urging lawmakers to reject these bills, “When a cause is righteous, there’s no need to use nice-sounding euphemisms or deceptive talking points to promote it. The proponents of these bills know how unseemly it is to promote suicide, so they pretend that’s not what they’re doing. But I hope you can see through this ploy. And I hope that you’ll act to defend the sanctity of every human life by rejecting these dangerous bills.“
Another impactful testimony was given by Dr. Thomas Hayne, a doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital, who strongly opposes physician-assisted suicide. He emphasized that as compassionate healers, when a patient expresses a desire to die, the appropriate response is not to offer suicide, but to provide care through listening and support. Dr. Hayne expressed concern that physician-assisted suicide would undermine the doctor-patient relationship, and make patients feel pressured to choose death over life as a way to end pain. He argued that the solution lies in improving palliative care options to alleviate suffering, not in enabling suicide, pointing out that those advocating for physician-assisted suicide already have the option to end their lives independently and that the real issue is whether doctors should be involved. Dr. Hayne concluded with a powerful statement: “If you want suicide, keep us physicians out of it.”
Now, we must reinforce these testimonies by calling and emailing our legislators. Urge them to vote NO on these dangerous and degrading bills. Click the button below to take action today!
MFI will never stop speaking out in defense of the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. Won’t you stand with us to protect life today by giving a generous gift to enable our righteous mission?
