I was just another ordinary citizen at the State House this session as an assisted suicide bill was debated. I found myself a tiny part of a coalition along with people who had nothing to do with the conventional pro-life movement, some of whom have absolutely no use for conventional pro-lifers. We had one goal: kill the bill.
Today, the bill suffered a parliamentary death. That’ll do for now.
I got more from the coalition than I gave. I listened to veterans and survivors of suicide attempts who wonder why some types of suicide should be prevented and others encouraged. I learned from people with disabilities who don’t want prescribed death to become “medical care.” I spoke with people who do not share my faith or most of my policy preferences, but who agree with me that health care providers – not to mention insurers – need to forge new paths to support medically vulnerable individuals without resorting to a lethal dose of pharmaceuticals.
We’ll have reason to work together again. Our conversations need to continue.
Ellen Kolb 