Medical aid in dying, claims against Catholic Church
Medical aid in dying is now legal in 10 states and the District of Columbia, a reader points out. Credit: Getty Images/Ruben Bonilla Gonzalo
Pending legislation deals with the dying
Dr. Eve E. Slater argues against the pending Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) legislation in New York with examples of problems with this type of legislation in Canada and the Netherlands “Should NYS adopt medical aid in dying?” Opinion, May 7]. Those examples appear to be irrelevant to the legislation pending in New York, which is based on the MAID law passed in Oregon almost 30 years ago.
MAID is now legal in 10 states and the District of Columbia. An accumulated experience of about 40 years with these U.S. laws reveals no documented cases of abuse. The pending state legislation gives a mentally competent dying person with a life expectancy of six months or less, as documented by two physicians, the option to self-ingest a lethal medication at a time of their choosing to end their lives when medical interventions are no longer effective in ending unbearable suffering.
It is not a question of life or death. These are dying people who have weeks or months to live. No patient, physician or pharmacist can be forced to participate in MAID. Mental incompetence, evidence of coercion, old age alone and disability alone prohibit participation in MAID.
— Dr. Yale Rosen, North Bellmore
Dismiss big claims against the Church
Newsday’s coverage of the class action case against the Catholic Church is a continuation of the persecution of Catholics and the Catholic Church by some media [“Diocese’s offer rejected by 86% of survivors,” News, April 20].
Nowhere is there any mention that all litigation of cases arising during the regular statute of limitations were prosecuted and settled.
Large sums have already been paid. The article also did not report that the American Catholic Church instituted procedures that have virtually eliminated the potential for future sexual abuse. The damage to the Church and Catholics was substantial both financially and in recruiting new clergy.
The excessive claims should be dismissed.
— Lawrence Donohue, West Islip
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