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“All I can say is, wow!! MAKING A DIFFERENCE: A Guide for Defending the Medically Vulnerable is tremendous and just what we needed! It's hard to explain all the aspects of stealth euthanasia to those unfamiliar with it, but it will make a huge difference to be able to hand them a well-designed and professionally produced short publication such as this. Thanks so much for all your hard work on this; it's just outstanding!” – S.H. from California

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The Truth About Assisted Suicide

The sound bites used to promote legalization of physician-assisted suicide (PAS) appeal to our emotions. For instance, the slogan "death with dignity" was crafted to convince the public that PAS is as "peaceful" as falling asleep and merely a "personal choice." This is very deceptive. Self-destruction is an extreme act of despair, and involving other people makes it more than a "personal choice." The talking points provided in "The Truth About Assisted Suicide" shed light on the pitfalls of PAS.

GET HALO'S COMMENTARY HERE

How exactly does Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS) work? A physician provides a patient with the means – a lethal dose of drugs and/or information needed to commit suicide. The last act is done by the patient, typically in their own home without the presence of a physician or impartial witnesses. PAS is legal in a small number of U.S. states and Washington, D.C., as well as throughout Canada and some other countries.

As I began to write this article, I asked myself, “How it is possible that Physician-Assisted Suicide has been accepted by so many, permeating our society’s values to the extent that it has? While pondering this question, I came across an article entitled “A Virus that Kills People and Souls” (https://www.all.org/a-virus-that-kills-people-and-souls/). This powerful article was written by Judie Brown, President of American Life League and member of HALO’s Advisory Board. Judie begins by reflecting that, while everyone’s focus is currently on the coronavirus, there is a much deadlier virus pursuing us. The victims of this deadlier virus include those who take their own lives and those who impose death – all in the name of compassion. Judie also states that our culture has convinced people that those who are ill and suffering are a burden to others and “this is how ordinary people become killers.”

Judie’s compelling closing statement is: “In a world overcome by viral pressure to kill rather than embrace the preborn, the sick, and the dying, we need God. We need to be, as Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen remarked, ‘divinely wise souls’ who ‘often infuriate the worldly-wise because they always see things from the Divine point of view.’ Let us continue to infuriate as we persevere in our work to eradicate godlessness—the deadly virus that kills people and souls.”

So, again, how has Physician-Assisted Suicide been able to permeate our American values to the extent that it has? As Judie alludes to in her article, I believe the core drivers are so-called “compassion” and godlessness. With that said, I pray that each one of us has the courage to accept the crosses and sufferings that come our way for the goodness of our souls and to evangelize others in our fight against PAS. After all, dying with dignity is not about meeting death on our own terms; rather, it is about meeting death on God’s terms, and it is about caring for our loved ones and our neighbors who are suffering, unwanted, or unloved.

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The Truth About Assisted Suicide

https://www.halovoice.org/pdf/The-Truth-About-Assisted-Suicide.pdf

A EUTHANASIA "PARTY"

By Julie Grimstad, President of HALO

Over the course of 35 years as a pro-life patient advocate, I have seen, been told, or read about many, many cases of imposed death (euthanasia by both omission and act). By now, I should be hardened. Thank God, I am not, as this case proves. I wept as I read “A Grim New Meaning to ‘Last Supper’” by Donald DeMarco, Crisis Magazine, March 12, 2020. [1]

As you read this, keep in mind that euthanasia is legal throughout Canada. Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, reported in January, “Approximately 5000 Canadians died by euthanasia in 2019 and 13,000 since legalization” [in 2016]. [2]

Mr. DeMarco reports, “The March 7 issue of the Toronto Star—ironically, in its lifestyle section—features the account of a 95-year-old mother who was euthanized with the approval of her children.” Here is a brief retelling of this horrific story.

The Eve Before “Mum” Was Euthanized

A party was given the night before “Mum” was killed, to honor her. It was attended by her four children and four of her six grandchildren. The festivities were interrupted when the public health nurse arrived to insert the shunts through which the lethal injections would be delivered. The woman’s doctor, who had cared for her for more than 10 years, had refused to “assist” her death. Her caregiver protested to her daughter, “Don’t do this. This isn’t what she wants. She is too sick to know.”

Misgivings Didn’t Stop Them

The daughter questioned herself, “Am I hastening my own mother’s death? Am I a horrible person? What will people think? Surely I’ll feel guilty afterwards.”

Nevertheless, this woman’s imposed death was carried out on schedule. The euphemism for this act is MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying). The word “killing” is too harsh for tender ears. “You shall not kill” is indeed a bluntly worded commandment. It sears our consciences.

[1] https://www.crisismagazine.com/2020/a-grim-new-meaning-to-last-supper
[2] http://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2020/01/approximately-5000-canadians-died-by.html

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UPDATE ON ASSISTED SUICIDE LEGISLATION

The Compassion & Choices website states: “For more than 30 years, by using a comprehensive strategy including legislative advocacy, grassroots organizing, media outreach and litigation, Compassion & Choices and our predecessor organizations have led most of the significant advances in the movement to expand end-of-life-options and improve care.” (https://compassionandchoices.org/resource/accomplishments-improving-care-expanding-options-end-life/)

The strategy of the assisted suicide lobby has always been to do whatever needs to be done—no matter how underhanded—to get a state legislature to pass a bill, and then “improve” the law incrementally in future legislative sessions (e.g., Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington).

Be on the lookout for assisted suicide/euthanasia bills—disguised under various titles—that have been proposed or introduced in your state. Actively oppose them.

To see the status of bills introduced in 2020 and more about assisted suicide legislation CLICK HERE.

Who is Dr. Ira Byock?

Ira Byock, MD, is one of the most anti-pro-life hospice and palliative care physicians in the country, this fact sheet explains why.

https://www.halovoice.org/pdf/Who-is-Dr-Ira-Byock.pdf

Pushing stealth euthanasia cannot be made acceptable by opposing the legalization of assisted suicide!

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HALO MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Healthcare Advocacy and Leadership Organization is to promote, protect, and advocate for the rights of the medically vulnerable through direct patient and family interactions; through community education and awareness programs; and through promotion and development of concrete *"life-affirming healthcare"* alternatives for those facing the grave consequences of healthcare rationing and unethical practices, especially those at risk of euthanasia and assisted suicide.

*"Life-affirming healthcare" is defined as medical care in which the paramount principle is the sanctity of life, which means that the life and safety of each person come first and each person receives medical care across their lifespan based on their need for care and never with an intention to hasten death, regardless of their abilities or perceived "quality of life."