Friend,
My name is Merri Lea Shaw, I am a licensed independent clinical social worker of 42 years, an NASW member, and an active volunteer for Compassion & Choices, the national organization seeking to make medical aid in dying an option for all individuals across the United States.
The proposed legislation, An Act Relative to End of Life Options, has gone by other names in the past but still asks for the same thing: to a
llow a terminally ill, mentally capable adult with a prognosis of six months or less to live the
option
to request, obtain, and take medication to die peacefully in their sleep if suffering becomes unbearable.
I support this initiative because I've seen firsthand the suffering a person with a terminal illness can face, especially when they have little to no choices in front of them.
My friend and colleague,
Susan Shapiro, LICSW
, testified in 2014 on a similar bill while suffering with Stage 4 ovarian cancer. She told the legislative committee she wanted to live, but instead she was facing her death, and wanted the option to end her life peacefully. She asked the committee members to move to legalize medical aid in dying so she could be at ease in her remaining days. The bill did not make it out of committee and Susan died a prolonged and painful death.
After Susan's death, I felt it was important to honor her and others like her, to advocate for
full bodily autonomy
and
right to self-determination
, the same pillars you'll find in NASW's Code of Ethics. If you share these values,
join me on Tuesday, June 25th 11am-5pm
in the Gardner Auditorium of the State House to show legislators your support and why this should be the year we extend an additional option to constituents of Massachusetts.
For more information on what this legislation would or would not do, please look below. The hearing is from 11am-5pm and you can testify
or show your support by wearing NASW stickers that we will provide
during any portion. If you'd like to testify, please contact Rebekah. I hope to see you at the State House.
Thank you,
Merri Lea
