Death with dignity not the same as euthanasia

I’d like to bring your attention to the headline used by The Recorder’s opinion page editorial staff to reference a letter to the editor on Oct. 16 in support of medical aid in dying, also known as death with dignity, written by Lisa Ahbel, R.N. The headline reads: “In Support of Euthanasia.”

The End of Life Options Act H1194 & S1225 (also known as medical aid in dying and death with dignity) is a bill that provides terminally ill patients that have a prognosis of six months or less to live the right, if they choose, to obtain a prescription from their physician to self-administer medication to end unbearable suffering and bring about a peaceful death. In other words, the patient is in full control throughout the process.

Euthanasia or mercy killing, on the other hand, is the painless killing of a patient by another person. In other words, the control is put into another’s hands.

The Massachusetts medical aid in dying bill is NOT about euthanasia. Please issue a retraction of that headline so that readers may be accurately informed.

Joan Milnes

Greenfield