Ballot Question No.2 - Death with Dignity Panel at First Churches
First Churches of Northampton
PUBLIC NOTICE
Death with Dignity Panel
The First Churches Peace and Justice Committee will be sponsoring a panel on the Death with Dignity Act at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, October 24 in Lyman Hall. This initiative petition will be on the ballot on Election Day, Nov. 6, in Massachusetts as Question Two. If passed by the voters,” Death with Dignity,” also known as physician-assisted suicide, would become law in Massachusetts. It would allow “individuals with the capacity to make health care decisions who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness that will cause death within six months” the option of requesting a lethal prescription. Oregon and Washington states have had similar laws for several years.
The Peace and Justice Committee of First Churches believes this is an important moral and ethical issue that the public needs to carefully weigh. The purpose of the panel will be to present a full range of views from informed observers on this ballot question. Panelists will have ten minutes to present their views and the audience can then ask questions of the panel. The program is open to the public.
The Panel includes representatives of the medical and clergy communities:
1) Tom Derr. Ph. D. professor of Religion and Ethics, Emeritus, Smith College;
2) Dr. Shawn Charest, a Palliative Care physician at Mercy Hospital;
3) Randee Laikind, representating “Death with Dignity 2012,” sponsors of Question 2; and
4) Denise Karuth, representing Second Thoughts, an organization of voters with disabilities opposed to the ballot question.
5) Rev. Todd Weir, minister of First Churches, will moderate the panel.
For questions about this event, please contact Rev. Todd Weir, First Churches, 584-9392 or David Entin, Chair, Peace and Justice Committee, 341-3042.
Andrea Marion
Church Administrator
The First Churches
129 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01060