Breaking News! Maine Passes a Death with Dignity Law. How you can raise awareness.

Maine’s legislature passed Death with Dignity legislation. Governor Mills just signed it making Maine the ninth jurisdiction to pass a Death with Dignity law. This means that 20% of Americans may obtain medical aid in dying. But terminally ill Ohioans do not have this option yet.

Let’s use Maine’s experience to raise media and public interest.

Here we have listed some EASY things you can do to help raise awareness in Ohio about Death with Dignity laws. See below for information about writing a letter to your local newspaper’s editor, posting on social media and contacting your state legislators.

We know there is popular support because of the social media response in April after the passing of the New Jersey Aid in Dying law.  Both Cleveland.com and Fox8.com posted on Facebook asking for the thoughts of their followers. There were over 1,600 reactions to each post, the vast majority were positive. There were over 400 comments and shares. Here’s one representative example:

It’s just logical to me. My dad was terminally ill and many times mentioned that he wished he could do this. While I wish every day he was still here… I also am happy he is out of pain and no longer struggling. (He had) No quality of life.

Each opportunity to raise awareness about Aid in Dying in Ohio is important.

Here are some ways to do that:

• Write a letter to the editor of your local paper.
• An old Rule of 7 in marketing says that an issue has to be seen seven times before it sinks in.

  Some areas of Ohio have never heard of Aid in Dying for the terminally ill or Death with Dignity legislation. Instead they have seen headlines using the terms “euthanasia” or “assisted suicide.” Some people are aware of Jack Kevorkian in the 90s but don’t understand that what he did differs from what we are asking for. We are advocating for a law that allows a terminally ill, mentally competent adult to obtain a prescription for life ending medication from their doctor should they choose to use it.

  • Here is a sample letter. Tailor the first paragraph to your experience:

Dear _____,

[Tailor this paragraph with your experience.] I was with my father when he died after having cancer for years. He was treated with chemotherapy and had many surgeries before being told there were no more effective treatments. After enrolling in hospice, he said that he would feel much better knowing that he would be able to control his death if his suffering grew too great.

The Maine legislature just passed a Death with Dignity law that allows a terminally ill, mentally capable adult to obtain medical aid in dying.  Maine joins seven states and the District of Columbia in passing such a law. Now, one in five people in the U.S., when death is certain and imminent, can seek and obtain a prescription that they can take themselves to die peacefully. The laws have many safeguards to insure that there is no coercion and that the person is acting voluntarily.  The dying person is in control of whether to seek the prescription, whether to fill it, and whether to use it.

Ohioans should have the same option.  Polling in 2018 showed that a large, bipartisan majority of Ohioans favor such legislation, no matter their religious beliefs.

I urge you to cover this story and those of terminally ill Ohioans asking for this option that, in addition to hospice care, allows for peace and comfort when death is imminent.

Sincerely,

• Get the Facts:
  • • Focus Areas (pick a couple):
      • Self-determination, autonomy
      • Safeguards & protections
      • Brings comfort to those facing unbearable suffering
      • Why it’s important/matters to you

• • • Facts (pick a few):
      • A survey completed by Public Policy Polling in May 2018 showed that 69% of Ohio voters supported the bill that was introduced in January 2018. The sponsoring Senator was term limited so the bill did not make it out of committee.
      • Jurisdictions with laws: OR, WA, VT, CA, CO, HI, NJ and DC
      • 1 in 5 Americans now have this option at the end of life
      • Safeguards have insured there are no cases of abuse in the history of these laws
      • Most people (76%) have cancer, some have neurologic diseases like ALS which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease (8%).
      • 90% of people in Oregon were also enrolled in hospice – as an option it is compatible with hospice care
        
      • Advanced age and disability do not qualify as terminal illness
      • Doctors and pharmacists may opt to not participate

• • Letters to the Editor need to be around 200 words, so short and to the point.
    • You can search for how to submit a letter to the editor on the internet and on your local paper’s website.
    • We understand that experiences with our beloved pets are what brings many to this issue. But we don’t use that as a focus point because it is technically a discussion of euthanasia since the vet administers the medication. A main concern from opponents is that the vulnerable will be abused under Aid in Dying laws. The legislation we support is clear that:
      • Only a mentally capable, terminally ill adult may request the medication
      • When a person takes the medication, he/she is both mentally capable and physically able to ingest it.

• Social Media: Don’t be Shy!
  • Share a post from Ohio End of Life Options’
    • Facebook page (@OhioEndofLifeOptions)
    • Twitter feed (@OhioOptions)
    • Instagram feed (Ohio End of Life Options).
  • Post an article about Maine’s new law when it passes. Say you want a law like it in Ohio.
  • Share our email updates with friends and family
    

• Contact your legislators
  • Go to OhioOptions.org to take action. The Contact Your Legislators Today button on the home screen generates an email that you can send to your legislators. Or you can search for your state legislators and email, phone or write to them.
    
  • Tell them your story and that this is a priority for terminally ill Ohioans.
  • Senator Kenny Yuko was a co-sponsor of SB 249 in 2018 at the end of the last legislative session. Ask him to sponsor legislation this session.
    • Even if you have contacted them before, contact them again. It may be a new legislative session and you can ask for a follow up phone call or meeting.
    • Invite them to meet and include a representative from Ohio End of Life Options to provide information.