Defeat Physician-Assisted Suicide
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In 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020, legislation was filed in the Maryland General Assembly that would allow doctors to legally prescribe a lethal dose of medicine at the request of a patient who has been deemed mentally competent and who has received a terminal diagnosis — we call this physician-assisted suicide or PAS. These bills were ultimately withdrawn from consideration after successful advocacy by our coalition and other allies because they are unnecessary and dangerous for Maryland’s residents.
However, we know that the bill’s national advocates, Compassion & Choices, will file this legislation again this year in Maryland. They have shown their commitment to spending tens of millions of dollars nationally to pass bills like this across the country.
A coalition of disability advocates, members of the medical community, patient advocates, and religious organizations have joined together to advocate against these physician-assisted suicide bills, or what its proponents call “Death with Dignity.” We encourage you to join the coalition and help us defeat this dangerous legislation. Sign up here so we can stay in touch and let you know how to help.
The Maryland Catholic Conference of Bishops has prepared a tool kit to assist parishes in responding to a legislative proposal that will legalize physician-assisted suicide. Your response to this initiative will be critical to ensuring we can organize a vocal and successful effort to uphold the dignity of life and defeat this measure. Please use the following links to learn more and sign up to oppose physician-assisted suicides: mdcatholic.org/pasor via X (formerly known as Twitter) at @mdcatholic.
Please see and share the archdiocesan pastoral resources on End-of-Life Care including a booklet, available in both English and in Spanish, that is designed to help accompany individuals and their families as they begin to explore the many options for funeral and burials in our region. This guide also contains important information about end-of-life care and grief resources.
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