Panel Day Reflection

The panel I experienced on March 28 was made up of panelists Dr. Robert Macauley, ethicist of Fletcher Allen Healthcare, Claire Weis, a palliative care hospice nurse, Dr. David Babbott, a retired doctor, and special guest Marnie Woods, a woman who's sister had a physician assist her suicide in the state of Oregon.Macauley and Weis both believed that Vermont should not legalize PAS, whereas Babbott and woods were completely for it. All panelists put up great arguments, and you could tell how strongly they all felt about the issue. Babbott mention multiple times how this law would be pretty much the exact some law now active in Oregon, and how well its been working for them. However Macauley  provided more solid facts on how statistically, only few will ask to be assisted in suicide, even fewer will actually qualify, therefore the number of people this law will even apply to will be so minimal, yet it  could have negative impacts on us all. Also, Weis pointed out how there are so many other options for terminally ill patients, and there is no reason that patients should feel like killing themselves is the only way to stop the pain.