Vote No on Initiative 1000, No Assisted Suicide
"No" to Assisted Suicide: An open letter to Gov. Booth Gardner

An open letter to Gov. Booth Gardner

Dear Gov. Gardner:

As we greet the arrival of spring, nature"s promise of the renewal of life leading to a bountiful harvest in the fall, it seems fitting to respond to a recent letter you sent across the nation soliciting funds for the initiative you hope to place on the November ballot allowing physician-assisted suicide.

First, please accept an apology.. In an earlier interview I said you were acting selfishly. That was wrong of me. Much as I think suicide is an irrational and selfish act, I should separate the act from the person. I should not and will not question your motives. Not only do you and I share the same affliction, which is Parkinson"s disease, we also share a love for politics and baseball. With respect for each other, we should just agree to disagree, but avoid being disagreeable..

Join the people against assisted suicide in Washington.

I-1000 proponents want you to think you need to choose assisted suicide as an option to control your medical care. Click here to see why they're wrong and to learn about your good end of life care options.

What's Wrong with Assisted Suicide?

Twenty-five states have defeated bills and/or initiatives aimed at legalizing assisted suicide. In Washington, a similar law was proposed in 1991 and defeated by the voters, 54% to 46%. We are a broad coalition and members have various reasons for opposing assisted suicide. Most doctors and nurses believe their job is to promote health, treat symptoms, and cure medical conditions when possible. Promoting assisted suicide is inconsistent with their commitment to "do no harm."

Why Are Persons with Disabilities Opposing this law?
Society often dismisses the value and quality of the lives of people with disabilities, making many disabled people vulnerable to pressure and manipulation.

People with new disabilities often feel despondent and even suicidal. But over time they typically find satisfaction in their lives. Working through this initial despair usually takes far longer than the brief two-week waiting period in Oregon's law. In that critical early stage, many disabled people could easily take this irrevocable fatal step. And, as Dr. Jack Kevorkian taught us, the line between a terminal illness and disability can be easily crossed.

Why Are Low-Income and Minorities Opposing this law?
Our for-profit health care system often delivers unequal treatment, with minorities and low-income patients receiving the lowest quality care. Allowing doctors to prescribe lethal drugs could harm those least able to defend themselves.

Read it yourself.
I-1000 proponents don't want you to know what's really in the initiative. It's dangerous and puts vulnerable Washingtonians at risk. Here's the full text of the initiative

 




Sponsored by Coalition Against Assisted Suicide - PO BOX 11794 - Olympia Washington 98508