April 27, 2023
Dear Friends:
During the past months, we have had bad news stories. However, this month we have good news stories.
I have great news from Connecticut, which has debated assisted suicide bills for 11 consecutive years. We were concerned since last November’s election led to some representatives who opposed assisted suicide not being re-elected and yet on April 19, the assisted suicide lobby pulled the bill because they did not have enough votes to legalize assisted suicide. Euthanasia Prevention Coalition USA (EPC-USA) held our conference in Connecticut last October to provide our Connecticut allies with more training and support.
Based on the success of the conference last October, EPC-USA will be holding its next conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Saturday, October 21. The assisted suicide lobby has targeted Michigan and it is our goal to help prepare an effective opposition. The conference will be a combination of informing and campaign training with participants being able to attend the hybrid conference in-person or online. More updates will be available soon.
A significant victory. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has established tighter rules for prescribing Schedule II controlled substances. You may remember that EPC ran a strong campaign supporting changes to the rules for prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine. This decision sets back the assisted suicide lobby’s effort to prescribe assisted suicide via telemedicine since assisted suicide lethal cocktails require the use of Schedule II controlled substances. As of May 1, doctors will not be legally able to prescribe assisted suicide via telemedicine.
Important: A court case was launched to declare the California assisted suicide law as unlawful and unconstitutional. The case was launched by the United Spinal Association, Not Dead Yet, Institute for Patients’ Rights and the Communities Actively Living Independent and Free. We support this initiative and will keep you informed.
Good news from Portugal. You may remember that last month Portugal’s legislature passed their fourth euthanasia bill. On April 20, President de Sousa vetoed the bill. However, Portugal’s legislature could overturn the veto with a 2/3 vote, which may happen. We will keep you informed.
EPC is participating in a conference on Saturday, June 3 in Victoria, BC titled, “Euthanasia is Not the Answer to Our Healthcare Crisis: Killing is Not Caring”. Anyone can attend this hybrid conference in person or online (CLICK HERE TO REGISTER). The speakers include Angelina Ireland, President, Delta Hospice Society, Catherine Foster, co-founder of EPC-USA, and myself. The conference will run from 9 a.m. to 12 noon PDT which is 12 noon to 3 p.m. EST. If you have questions about registering to attend either in person or online, email me (info@epcc.ca).
EPC is supporting Bill C-314, the bill that is sponsored by Hon. Ed Fast (MP) that would prohibit euthanasia for mental illness in Canada. This is an important initiative to prevent the further expansion of euthanasia in Canada.
In the past months, we have been busy with speaking engagements, responding to news and organizing events. Your sustained support enables us to push back and prevent euthanasia. Thank you for your continued financial support.
Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director
Sign the Declaration of Hope Opposing Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide:
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