By Barbara Lyons, Executive Director, Wisconsin Right to Life
Barbara Lyons
Proponents of doctor-prescribed suicide (also known as assisted suicide) have traveled a long road in attempts to legalize the practice in Wisconsin. In seven consecutive legislative sessions, from 1997 to 2205, legislation was introduced in Wisconsin to legalize assisted suicide, but the bills gained no traction beyond a few public hearings.
Attention appears now to have turned to persuading the Wisconsin Medical Society (WMS) to change its position from one in opposition to legalization to one in support, or to at least be neutral. This is understandable because the opposition of state medical associations has been critical in turning back doctor-prescribed suicide initiatives across the land. The latest attempt to co-opt the WMS failed a week ago.
The current WMS position states: “The Wisconsin Medical Society reaffirms its opposition to any legislation that legalizes physician-assisted suicide in Wisconsin.” In 2009, a resolution to change the WMS position was introduced in the organization’s Ethics Committee. The proposed resolution was familiar-let’s do what Oregon does so “successfully” and provide the same “safeguards.” Testimony was solicited and presented to the committee, with three individuals speaking in favor of the position change and three in opposition. The resolution to favor legalization of assisted suicide was defeated by a 13-5 vote.
A new Wisconsin leader for proponents of doctor-prescribed suicide has emerged, Dr. Edith McFadden. While her name may be unfamiliar, she is married to Marquette University Professor Dan Maguire, long-known in right-to-life circles as an ardent champion of abortion and euthanasia.
Dr. McFadden proposed a new resolution to be brought before the WMS House of Delegates on April 21, 2012. While worded differently than the 2009 resolution, the 2012 version touted Oregon’s experience as one without abuse and asked that an Oregon-type “death with dignity” law be supported by WMS. Debate on the resolution occurred in committee on April 20 and the full House of Delegates voted to defeat the resolution the following day.
This is likely not the end of the road as a new resolution is expected to be introduced in subsequent years. However, for now, it is gratifying to have the state’s largest medical group maintain a strong position in opposition to legalization of doctor-prescribed suicide.
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