Proposition 106 to Legalize Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia in Colorado is Full of Problems

Attorney Margaret Dore, president of Choice is an Illusion, which has fought assisted suicide and euthanasia legalization efforts in many states, made the following statement in connection with Prop. 106, a pending ballot measure that seeks to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia in Colorado.

“Choice is an Illusion has launched a new website, “Choice is an Illusion Colorado,” specifically to fight Prop. 106 in these last ten days before the election,” said Dore. “The website’s purpose is to set the record straight on a deceptive and fraudulent measure that promises choice and control for individuals, but takes that choice away.”

“Prop. 106 seeks to legalize physician-assisted suicide, assisted suicide and euthanasia as those terms are traditionally defined,” said Dore. “Prop. 106 is described as ‘aid in dying,’ but its reach is not limited to dying people. ‘Eligible’ persons may have years, even decades, to live.”

Dore said, “The patient’s heir, who will financially benefit from the patient’s death, is allowed to actively participate in signing the patient up for the lethal dose. There is no oversight over administration.”  Dore elaborated, “No doctor, not even a witness, is required to be present at the death.” Dore said, “Even if the patient struggled, who would know? Prop. 106 creates the perfect crime.”

“I live in Washington State where assisted suicide is legal,” said Dore. “Oregon is right next door.”

Dore continued, “So far, I have had two cases where there was trauma suffered in connection with legal assisted suicide.”

“In the first case,” said Dore, “one side of the family wanted my client’s father to take the lethal dose while the other side did not. The father spent the last months of his life caught in the middle and torn over whether he should kill himself. He died the old fashioned way, but his family was torn apart.” Dore said, “In the other case, it’s not clear that death by the lethal dose was voluntary.”

Dore added, “Prop. 106 seeks to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia for people who are ‘terminal,’ which is defined as a prediction of less than six months to live. In real life, such persons can have years to live.”

“One reason,” said Dore, “is that the ‘six months to live’ is determined without treatment.” “To illustrate,” Dore said, “I have a friend in Oregon who was talked out of assisted suicide sixteen years ago. Her doctor convinced her to be treated for cancer instead.”

“If Prop. 106 becomes law, there will be new lethal paths of elder abuse, which will be legally sanctioned and hidden from view,” said Dore. “People with years, even decades to live, will be encouraged to throw away their lives. Even if you like the concept of assisted suicide and euthanasia, Prop. 106 is the wrong law.”