Assisted Suicide in Massachusetts Fails

There was at least one bright spot in the recent election. Massachusetts had a ballot issue before the voters. Question Two would allow doctors to give a lethal prescription to terminally ill patients. Early in the process 68 percent of the people supported assisted suicide. After the electorate was educated, it lost 51 percent to 49. Disability activists and the medical community opposed Question Two. And well-known liberals, like the widow of Senator Ted Kennedy, eloquently spoke out against it. Those supporting assisted-suicide weren’t able to paint the opponents as religious fanatics imposing their religion on the people. And physicians said it was fundamentally incompatible with the doctors’ role as a healer. All this made for victory which will save lives in the state.