The act of assisting someone to take their own life by providing the means and instructions to do so.

Doctor-assisted suicide is illegal in the vast majority of states.

Only Oregon, Vermont, Washington, California, Hawaii, Colorado, New Jersey, New Mexico, Washington DC, and MAINE have legalized Doctor Assisted Suicide.

The direct killing of a person by injecting a lethal substance.

Euthanasia is illegal in all 50 states. In the Netherlands, euthanasia is legal, with or without the consent of the patient. Assisted suicide is also legal in the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Canada, and Belgium. Although Assisted Suicide is prohibited in Switzerland, it is widely practiced, and people come to Switzerland from all over the world for assistance with suicide. Chronically ill children of any age can now be euthanized in Belgium. The Netherlands has adopted guidelines allowing parents to consent to the direct killing of newborn infants with disabilities. 

Maine Right to Life believes we are better served to focus on true compassionate care for our vulnerable populations with programs such as Hospice, palliative care, Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST), advanced directives, prevention of elder abuse, and proactive programs that focus on improving pain management and the quality of life.

Palliative Care and Hospice Care are similar in that both provide comfort care to patients. Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms that are related to chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, COPD, AIDS, Alzheimer's, and other conditions. Palliative care can be used at any stage of illness, not just the advanced or final stages.

Hospice Care is palliative by nature. Hospice Care is generally offered when a patient's condition has progressed to a point where curative treatment is no longer beneficial or desired. Hospice Care supports the patient and their families while focusing on relieving symptoms and relieving pain. With Hospice Care, the goal is not to cure but to promote comfort at the last stages of the patient's life.

Hospice Care involves an interdisciplinary team approach to expert medical care, pain management, emotional support, and spiritual support. The patient's particular needs and wishes are at the forefront of the approach undertaken.

The Hospice team is usually comprised of the patient's personal doctor, a Hospice physician, nurses, home health aids, social workers, clergy and other counselors, and trained volunteers. Hospice also provides speech, occupational, and physical therapists, if needed.

Hospice provides true compassionate care at the most vulnerable time in a person's life. Hospice care provides dignity and respect for patients and their loved ones at a time when they need it the most.

For more information, contact the Hospice Hotline at 1-800-658-8898 or www.nhpco.org

Or contact Maine Hospice Council (207) 626-0651 or www.mainehospicecouncil.org

Advance Directives allow healthcare providers to make decisions related to your care when you are unable to make these decisions for yourself due to illness. Often, hospitals ask you to sign an Advance Directive upon admission. There are two major types of Advance Directives. 

A living will instruct healthcare providers what healthcare treatments you want (or don't want) in specific cases. We don't recommend signing a Living Will because it is almost impossible to predict all possible scenarios and treatment choices. A living will is easily misinterpreted. Oftentimes times, the template for Living Wills is formulated by pro-euthanasia groups. You are better served to use the Will to Live described below.

A Durable Power of Attorney is a "proxy" directive. It is a legal document in which you select someone you trust as a healthcare agent for you. It is important that you discuss in detail what type of treatment you want if you become unable to direct your own care. Avoid making blank statements such as 'no machines' or 'no tubes.' Feeding tubes, for instance, may be used in short-term care to ensure long-term health and recovery.

A sample of Maine's Durable Power of Attorney/Will to Live form is available here. Consult your attorney for more information or the National Right to Life's Will to Live Project here.