Search for terms in any order (think of space as an "and" connector) environmental science

Search for terms in exact order (for phrases) "environmental science"

Search for either term environmental or science

Search using wildcards fish*
This will find 'fish', 'fisheries', etc.
So-called "fuzzy" searches judgement~
This is useful for commonly misspelled words. This would find "judgment" or "judgement", etc.
Proximity searches "employee termination"~5
This will find any document that contains these two terms within five words of each other.
Term boosting opioid treatment^2
Boost a term to make it more relevant. If you are interested in the term opioid, but are especially interested in opioid treatment, you would use this.
Boolean operators education -children
education not children
The two searches above work in the same manner. They find documents containing the word education that does not contain the word children.
Grouped searches (education or teaching) and children
This will find documents that contain children, and that also contain EITHER education or teaching
Advanced Search
Advanced Search | Search Help

4/2/25, 9:00 AM - Committee Hearing: Public Health, State House Gardner Auditorium and Virtual

Status: Normal
Date/Time: 4/2/25 9:00 AM
Location: State House Gardner Auditorium and Virtual
Committee: Joint Committee on Public Health (JPH)
Add to your calendar
     

Emergency Medical Services, Professional Licensure and Scope of Practice, and End-Of-Life Options

The Joint Committee on Public Health will conduct a hybrid public hearing in Gardner Auditorium on April 2, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on bills relating to emergency medical services, professional licensure and scope of practice, and end-of-life options.

Individuals testifying should limit their remarks to 3 minutes. All panels should limit their testimony to a total of 6 minutes.

Please be advised that all written testimony submitted will be read by Committee Members and staff and may be made available for public review on the Legislature’s website.

***INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION / TESTIMONY***

LINK TO PRE-REGISTER TO TESTIFY: Persons who wish to testify in person or virtually or submit written testimony may do so by completing this form linked here (https://forms.gle/CLKWDzHFcQmSd12G8).
 

DEADLINE TO PRE-REGISTER: Persons planning to testify virtually must sign up no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 31, 2025. Individuals and groups testifying in person are strongly encouraged to register using the form above prior to the deadline. Registration by the deadline is required for those who wish to testify virtually during the live hearing and encouraged for those who wish to testify in person. Persons who do not have a Google account or do not wish to use the Google form can submit testimony and/or sign up to testify by emailing JointCommittee.PublicHealth@malegislature.gov. Please indicate whether you plan to testify in person or virtually. Participants who indicate that they plan to testify virtually will receive an invitation to the hearing with instructions via email after the deadline closes.

SAME DAY SIGN-UP FOR IN-PERSON TESTIMONY ONLY – IF TIME ALLOWS: Individuals who miss the deadline to pre-register for testimony may appear on the day of the hearing and sign-up to speak in person on forms provided by committee staff outside of the hearing room. Time permitting, when all pre-registered individuals have been called to testify, the Chairs will then call any individuals who sign-up on the day of the hearing.

WRITTEN TESTIMONY: If you would like to provide written testimony, please include the bill number in the subject line of the email, as well as your name, address, phone number, and organization, if any, on the submitted testimony. Written testimony is encouraged and will continue to be accepted after the hearing until the relevant bill is acted upon. Such testimony may be submitted via email toJointCommittee.PublicHealth@malegislature.gov. Please include "Public Health Committee Testimony, [Relevant Bill Number]" in the subject line of the email. Those who plan to submit only written testimony may do so before or after the signup deadline. Once again, those submitting written testimony should be aware that all written testimony submitted will be read by committee members and staff and may be made available for public review on the Legislature’s website. 
 

ORDER OF TESTIMONY: The Chairs, at their discretion, will determine the order of testimony during the course of the hearing. It is the responsibility of the individuals registered to testify to be prepared to speak when called upon by the Chairs. In the event that an individual is called by the Chairs and that person is not logged into the Teams platform, the Chairs will move on and call the next individual or panel.

This hearing will be recorded and archived for later viewing. Those who do not plan to testify but want to watch the public hearing may view the livestream under the Hearings & Events section of the legislative website.

If you have any questions, you may email Ramla.Hagi@mahouse.gov from Chair Decker's office and Matthew.Murphy@masenate.gov from Chair Driscoll's office.


Related files:
Written Testimony: League of Women Voters of Mass. Testimony in Support of HB2505 & SB1486
Related to HB2505 (HD2540) - Rep. James J. O'Day (D) - An Act relative to end of life options
Related to SB1486 (SD1665) - Sen. Joanne Comerford (D) - An Act relative to end of life options

Bill # Title Last Action Status Track
04/02/2025 - Joint Committee on Public Health
Show All
Printable
Transcript
This transcript is in the process of being edited, fully edited transcript to follow.
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE

329.98 CHRIS329.98 FEENEY329.98 -329.98 AMERICAN329.98 HEART329.98 ASSOCIATION329.98 -329.98 HB329.98 2391329.98 -329.98 SB329.98 1489329.98 -329.98 Chairwoman329.98 Decker330.3 and331.1 members331.34 of331.66 the331.74 committee,331.9 my332.3 name332.38 is332.62 Chris332.78 Feeney.333.02 I333.34 am333.5 with333.66 the333.9 American334.22 Heart334.62 Association,334.94 and335.82 I336.06 am336.14 here336.38 to336.62 offer336.78 testimony337.02 in337.58 support337.82 of338.3 House338.46 Bill338.78 2391339.66 and340.54 Senate340.78 Bill341.1 1489,341.82 bills342.38 requiring342.78 automated343.42 external344.25 defibrillators344.56 at345.2 sporting345.44 events.345.76 I347.04 just347.2 wanted347.44 to347.69 note347.76 that348 this348.25 bill348.49 has348.88 been349.04 championed349.29 by349.76 Daryl350.16 Settles350.56 and350.96 Doctor351.2 Lisa351.52 Owens351.85 who352.25 lost352.4 their352.72 15353.52 year353.93 old354.08 son,354.32 Preston,354.56 to355.04 sudden355.29 cardiac355.76 arrest356.16 during356.56 a356.81 basketball356.88 game357.44 in357.76 2022.358 We've359.23 been359.47 working359.55 with359.95 the360.03 Settles360.19 family,360.59 and,361.39 unfortunately,361.63 they362.35 are362.59 out362.75 of362.99 the363.07 country363.15 this363.71 week363.87 and364.11 could364.35 not364.51 be364.75 here364.91 today.365.15 Sudden366.43 cardiac366.83 arrest367.23 is367.63 a367.79 leading367.87 cause368.27 of368.51 death368.59 but369.55 quick369.79 action370.11 can370.51 save370.75 lives.371.07 Sudden371.79 cardiac372.11 arrest372.71 victims373.04 need374.07 CPR374.48 and374.95 defibrillation375.19 within376 minutes,376.31 as377.44 survival377.75 chances379.6 drop380.07 by380.31 7380.48 to380.79 10380.95 percent381.19 each381.75 minute.382
383.68 Automated383.68 external384.24 defibrillators,384.79 or385.44 AEDs,385.68 which386.48 are386.78 simple387.02 and387.18 portable,387.42 can387.9 restore388.06 the388.54 heart's388.62 normal389.02 rhythm389.42 and389.82 our389.98 life390.14 saving390.46 tools.390.78 While392.54 AEDs392.86 are393.9 required394.06 at394.54 schools394.7 and395.02 school395.26 events,395.5 many395.9 community396.14 athletic396.7 facilities397.1 lack397.82 them.398.06 This398.97 legislation399.06 would399.69 ensure399.94 AEDs400.33 are400.74 available400.89 at401.62 all401.85 athletic402.1 fields402.5 and402.74 facilities,402.97 and403.77 that404.01 trained404.18 individuals404.57 are405.21 present405.38 to405.69 use405.77 them406.1 in406.25 emergencies.406.41 It408.01 can408.18 make408.33 a408.57 critical408.65 difference409.13 in409.53 saving409.69 lives.410.01 And410.65 while410.81 we411.06 fully411.21 support411.53 this411.85 legislation,412.01 American413.28 Heart413.68 Association414 also414.56 suggests414.96 that415.44 facilities415.6 have416.24 a416.48 plan416.56 in416.88 place417.04 to418.64 handle418.8 heart419.2 emergencies419.44 in420.08 addition420.16 to420.56 AEDs.420.8 These421.92 plans422.72 called423.04 cardiac423.36 emergency423.84 response424.4 plans424.96 or425.36 CERPs425.68 outline426.8 specific427.27 steps427.83 that428.31 should428.71 be428.96 taken429.12 during429.44 a429.68 heart429.75 emergency430.07 and430.63 can430.8 be430.96 shared431.12 with431.36 team431.51 members431.75 and432.71 displayed432.96 around433.36 the433.68 facility.433.75 CERP435.51 plans435.75 help436.07 communities436.31 and436.8 organizations436.96 create,437.68 practice,438.07 use,438.71 and439.04 review439.19 their439.6 heart439.83 emergencies441.27 plan,442.1 and442.5 they443.3 aim443.54 to443.7 lower443.86 the444.18 risk444.26 of444.58 death444.74 from445.22 cardiac445.54 arrest446.02 in446.34 any446.5 setting.446.82 I'll448.42 be448.66 happy448.82 to449.14 answer449.3 any449.54 questions.449.78 I450.18 am450.34 fairly450.58 new450.98 to451.22 this451.3 role,451.46 and451.86 my452.1 1452.42 year452.66 old452.82 was453.06 up453.22 all453.38 night,453.62 so453.78 I'm453.94 not454.1 sure454.34 how454.74 great455.86 my456.18 answers456.42 would456.94 be.457.43 But458.31 thank459.11 you459.26 for459.5 your459.67 consideration.459.9
463.59 SPEAKER1463.59 -463.59 Any463.59 questions?463.99
465.75 REP465.75 DECKER465.75 -465.75 Well,465.75 fortunately,466.06 as466.87 the467.19 chair467.43 of467.99 the468.31 committee468.55 last469.02 session,469.26 we469.82 were470.06 able470.23 to470.46 hear470.55 and470.87 really471.19 have471.5 a471.67 lot471.86 of471.94 conversations472.1 regarding472.66 this472.98 bill.473.22 And473.46 you'll473.86 note474.1 the474.34 House474.5 actually474.74 moved475.14 this475.38 bill475.62 forward476.02 out,476.26 and,478.26 we479.86 hope480.42 to481.06 do481.22 the481.38 same481.46 this481.86 year.482.1 So482.5 thank483.06 you483.38 for,483.62 your484.1 testimony.484.34
489.54 At489.54 this489.69 time,489.94 we're490.42 going490.74 to491.94 house,492.01 25493.3 56,493.94 enact494.98 relative495.46 to495.94 AEDs496.18 for496.74 athletic496.9 fields,497.38 and498.01 I498.25 invite498.42 Melissa498.9 Batit,499.46 parks500.25 and500.57 recreations500.74 professional.501.46 Oh,503.67 I505.59 believe505.67 Melissa506.31 is506.71 virtual506.79 on507.67 Teams.507.83
524.05 Welcome,524.05 Melissa.524.62
533.42 Melissa,533.42 are533.98 you534.22 there?534.38 We534.78 see535.1 your535.18 screen.535.42
540.54 Okay.540.54 We're540.86 gonna541.02 move541.42 on541.58 and541.9 we542.06 will542.3 try542.54 to542.78 circle542.86 back543.18 to543.34 Melissa.543.5 For543.9 anyone544.06 who544.46 is,544.62 on545.34 teams545.66 waiting546.14 to546.62 provide546.86 virtual547.62 testimony,547.93 I548.65 will548.89 ask549.13 you,549.38 we550.42 really550.74 embrace551.93 and552.42 are552.58 excited552.74 that553.13 people553.22 across553.54 the553.86 Commonwealth554.01 are554.58 able554.74 to554.98 testify555.13 from555.77 wherever556.01 they556.34 are556.5 and556.65 they556.82 don't556.89 have557.13 to557.3 be557.38 here557.54 at557.7 the557.86 State557.93 House.558.17 We558.74 will558.89 say559.22 that,559.46 we560.34 cannot560.5 guarantee560.89 that561.38 we561.68 will561.76 circle561.92 back562.16 to562.48 you562.64 for562.8 a562.96 second563.04 time.563.36 So563.6 please564.24 be564.72 at565.04 your565.6 monitor,566 ready567.2 to567.52 testify567.68 when568.16 your568.4 name568.56 is568.8 called.568.96
570.16 SPEAKER6570.16 -570.16 Hello.570.16 It's570.56 it's570.8 Melissa.571.04 Can571.44 you571.6 hear571.76
571.92 SPEAKER1571.92 -571.92 me571.92 now?572 We572.24 can572.4 hear572.56 you,572.72 Melissa.572.88 Welcome.573.28
573.84 SPEAKER7573.84 -573.84 Oh,573.84 great.574.08
574.48 SPEAKER6574.48 -574.48 Great.574.48 Thank574.8 you.575.04 I'm575.2 not575.36 as575.6 familiar575.76 with576.24 Teams576.4 as576.8 with577 some577.25 of577.4 the577.45 other577.49 virtual577.88 platforms,578.37 so578.68 I578.85 was578.92 having579.09 a579.33 hard579.4 time579.64 finding579.88 the580.21 the580.92 mic581.25 on581.57 mute.581.8
582.76 MELISSA582.76 BATTITE582.76 -582.76 TOWN582.76 OF582.76 LEXINGTON582.76 -582.76 HB582.76 2390582.76 -582.76 Good582.76 morning.582.92 My583.57 name583.73 is583.88 Melissa584.13 Termine585 Battite.585.8 I585.8 am585.88 a586.04 park586.13 and586.37 rec586.52 professional586.76 in587.73 the587.88 Commonwealth,588.04 for589.47 the589.63 last589.71 32590.19 plus590.75 years591.07 where591.55 I've591.79 served592.03 in592.35 two592.51 different592.75 communities.593.31 I595.23 strongly595.47 agree596.11 with596.51 access597.47 to597.87 AEDs598.27 and598.83 the598.99 importance599.15 of599.71 life599.87 saving600.11 access602.23 in602.87 our602.95 fields.603.5 I'm604.87 speaking605.11 today605.5 on605.99 behalf606.14 of606.63 the607.75 House607.9 bill608.23 2390609.02 brought609.59 forth609.83 by,610.47 Mr.611.11 Vaughn,611.59 who,612.71 has613.43 been613.59 a613.75 champion613.83 for614.31 park614.47 and614.71 recreation615.13 and615.53 across615.85 the616.17 the616.49 Commonwealth616.65 with617.13 our617.37 state617.61 association,617.93 Massachusetts618.65 Recreation619.37 and619.77 Park620.25 Association.621.53 I621.53 do621.69 have621.93 a622.09 few622.17 concerns622.49 with623.69 this.624.01 One625.05 is625.45 that625.69 the625.93 title626.09 refers626.49 to627.05 athletic627.37 fields,627.85 but628.63 then628.88 in629.2 the629.51 body629.75 of630.15 the631.6 context,631.84 it632.48 refers633.04 to633.51 parks,633.75 playgrounds,634.24 and634.88 then635.12 schools.635.51 I636.96 would637.12 caution638.63 that,639.27 each639.84 municipality642.49 is642.49 very642.49 different.642.49 Some642.49 park642.49 and642.81 recreation642.97 departments643.53 are644.09 very644.33 robust644.89 and645.45 have645.77 staff646.01 and646.57 have647.53 strong648.73 ability648.73 to649.53 provide649.85 these650.33 services650.49 well,651.21 while651.69 other652.01 towns652.49 and652.89 communities653.13 and653.77 cities653.93 only654.49 have654.73 one655.74 person656.3 or656.3 a656.3 part656.46 time656.7 person.656.93
658.62 The658.62 implementation659.98 of661.01 the661.25 training,661.5 the661.98 purchasing,662.22 and662.86 the663.01 maintaining663.18 of663.74 this663.89 equipment664.13 would664.93 be665.18 a665.5 hardship665.65 for666.3 many667.1 communities,667.5 not668.96 only669.12 financially,669.52 but670.16 in670.4 terms670.56 of670.88 the671.12 staffing671.76 and672.72 the673.04 responsibility673.28 to674.08 make674.16 sure674.4 that674.56 these674.8 pieces675.36 of675.68 equipment675.84 were676.4 available,677.36 and678 always678.4 ready,679.04 and679.84 in680.16 working680.32 condition.680.8 Many682.05 of682.21 our682.45 parks682.62 and682.93 playgrounds683.1 are683.65 in683.89 areas684.05 where684.45 solar685.5 AEDs686.38 would686.93 not687.17 be687.33 an687.5 option687.65 due688.05 to688.29 the688.62 tree689.17 covering.689.41 There's690.29 not690.53 access690.77 to691.1 electricity691.33 to692.05 hardwire692.29 them693.82 and694.64 there's694.64 not694.88 staff695.2 at695.52 all695.68 of695.84 these696 facilities696.32 while696.88 they're697.04 open697.2 to697.44 the697.6 public697.68 dawn698.16 to698.4 dusk.698.56 So699.44 I699.68 would699.84 encourage700 the701.28 decision701.52 makers701.92 to702.32 please702.48 embrace702.88 some703.36 of703.6 the703.68 park703.84 and704.08 recreation704.24 professionals704.88 and706 to706.48 discuss706.96 these707.52 plans708.71 with709.43 them709.67 to709.91 see710.15 how710.32 they710.48 can710.63 be710.88 rolled711.27 out711.6 in711.84 a712 way712.08 that712.32 we712.48 can712.63 best712.96 support713.27 all714.08 of714.32 our714.48 communities714.63 equally.715.2 I'm716.63 happy716.88 to717.2 take717.27 questions.717.51 Thank718 you718.24 for,718.39 taking718.96 my720.08 comments.720.32
724.73 SPEAKER1724.73 -724.73 Thank724.73 you,724.97 Melissa.725.29 Thank725.69 you725.85 for725.93 your726.09 testimony726.33 and726.81 for726.97 the727.13 concerns727.29 you've727.69 raised.727.93 At729.45 this729.61 time,729.85 I'm730.17 going730.33 to,730.57 welcome,731.37 my732.25 colleagues732.41 from732.81 the733.05 senate,733.21 Senator734.41 Brownsberger,734.81 who735.45 also735.69 represents736.01 a736.41 piece736.49 of736.73 Cambridge736.89 here,737.75 senator738.47 Commerford,739.11 and739.99 my740.3 former740.63 colleague,741.11 senator741.83 Fernandez.742.3 It's743.26 welcome743.5 to743.9 see744.07 you.745.83 Good746.14 morning.746.47
765.38 SPEAKER8765.38 -765.38 Oh,765.38 I765.7 have765.86 to766.1 do766.26 this.766.42
769.6 SEN769.6 COMERFORD769.6 -769.6 HB769.6 2505769.6 -769.6 SB769.6 1486769.6 -769.6 Good769.6 morning,769.75 Chair771.36 Decker,771.68 Chair772.08 Driscoll,772.32 honorable773.12 members773.6 of774 the774.15 committee.774.32 Thank775.51 you775.75 so776 much776.15 for776.39 allowing776.63 us777.12 to777.36 testify777.6 out778.24 of778.39 turn.778.63 We're779.75 here,780 as780.32 you780.56 know,780.72 to780.88 testify781.04 in781.52 support781.68 of782 an782.16 act782.32 relative782.48 to782.96 end783.2 of783.36 life783.52 options.783.92 I785.52 have785.76 offered785.92 this786.24 bill786.48 in786.64 partnership786.88 with787.44 Leader787.68 O'Day788 and788.48 Representative788.72 Phillips,789.44 who790.24 are790.48 unbelievable790.72 advocates791.68 and792.72 leaders792.96 on793.36 this793.52 issue.793.68 And794 we're794.57 grateful794.82 here795.29 to795.62 have795.7 Senator796.01 Brownsberger,796.41 Senator797.05 Fernandez,797.53 and798.1 senator798.25 Oliveira798.65 is799.62 also799.86 part800.17 of800.41 a800.57 quartet800.65 in801.86 support.802.1 This803.21 bill803.45 has803.7 22804.01 cosponsors804.57 in805.21 the805.38 Senate805.45 thus805.93 far,806.17 52806.57 cosponsors807.13 in807.86 the808.01 House.808.17 I809.36 am809.52 also,809.76 terrifically810.88 grateful,811.44 to812.56 have813.44 so815.2 many815.44 advocates815.84 statewide816.48 who817.28 will817.68 hope817.92 to818.16 speak818.32 with818.56 you818.72 today.819.36 And,819.92 of820.4 course,820.56 Chair821.68 Decker,822 you822.48 know822.64 this822.8 bill822.96 intimately,823.2 having824.16 worked824.45 on824.85 it824.92 so826.04 well.826.37
827.49 This827.49 bill827.64 allows827.97 mentally828.45 capable828.85 patients829.33 with829.73 terminal829.97 conditions830.45 to831.33 choose831.57 a831.88 peaceful832.04 death.832.52 It833.33 also833.57 establishes833.97 rigorous834.68 safeguards835.25 for835.88 patients836.13 and836.45 physicians836.61 to837.16 follow837.33 in838.13 order838.37 to838.61 protect838.76 vulnerable839.33 people839.84 from840.16 coercion,840.48 which840.96 I841.2 know841.36 you841.52 care841.68 a841.92 lot842 about.842.24 In842.96 2002,843.2 the844 Boston844.08 Globe844.48 editorial844.8 board845.44 wrote845.76 that846 the846.24 Massachusetts846.4 bill847.12 is847.36 one847.52 of847.68 the847.84 most847.92 cautious848.32 and849.04 comprehensive849.44 in850.24 the850.4 nation.850.48 In851.28 fact,851.52 some852.64 of852.88 the853.12 concerns853.28 we've853.85 got854.08 is854.25 that854.4 we've854.56 made854.8 it854.96 too855.28 rigorous,856.96 right?857.13 And857.13 we857.37 don't857.85 want858.08 it858.25 to858.32 be858.49 undoable858.73 for859.61 people.860.4 I861.52 should861.61 say861.85 that862 this862.25 committee,862.4 under863.2 your863.44 leadership,863.68 Chair864.16 Decker,864.18 has864.19 been864.2 instrumental864.21 in864.22 developing864.23 these864.25 safeguards864.26 after864.27 listening864.28 deeply864.29 to864.3 people864.31 across864.32 the866.4 commonwealth.874.21
874.21 I874.21 am874.21 grateful874.21 for874.21 this874.21 committee874.21 for874.21 reporting874.21 this874.21 legislation874.21 out874.93 favorably875.01 last875.65 session875.97 for876.21 the876.37 third876.61 time.876.93 Last877.25 session,877.49 also877.81 for878.13 the878.37 first878.53 time,878.85 it879.49 was879.65 reported879.81 favorably880.29 from880.3 health880.31 care880.32 financing.880.34 I'll880.35 make880.36 just880.37 two883.55 brief883.8 points.884.12 First,885.08 as885.63 you885.88 know,886.04 public886.27 opinion886.67 is887.08 supportive.887.32 In888.27 June888.51 2024,889.24 a889.96 poll890.12 found890.36 that890.67 two890.84 thirds891.08 of891.32 Massachusetts891.55 residents892.2 support892.92 giving893.24 terminally893.55 ill894.2 patients894.43 the895.33 legal895.57 option895.89 to896.21 end896.37 their896.53 lives896.69 with897.01 a897.25 doctor's897.41 prescription,898.05 with899.01 67899.25 supporting900.45 the900.93 idea,901.09 22901.49 remaining902.13 neutral,902.61 and903.01 only903.17 11,903.41 somewhat904.77 strong905.81 opposition.906.45 Second,907.7 10908.42 states908.74 and909.06 the909.22 District909.38 Of909.7 Columbia909.86 already911.22 authorized911.46 medical912.25 aid912.58 in912.82 dying.912.98 In914.25 the914.5 25914.65 years915.3 since915.62 Oregon915.86 became916.42 the916.74 first916.98 state917.46 in918.18 the918.34 nation918.5 to918.98 implement919.13 medical920.98 aid921.38 in921.62 dying,921.77 there922.42 has922.58 been922.88 no923.12 evidence923.28 of924 any924.24 abuse,924.56 coercion,925.12 or925.6 bias925.84 in927.36 the927.52 implementation.927.68 So928.72 thank928.96 you929.2 chairs,929.44 thank929.84 you929.92 committee930.16 for930.56 your930.72 consideration930.96 and931.52 all931.76 the931.92 work932 you've932.24 done932.48 over932.72 many932.96 years933.2 on933.84 this934 bill.934.24
937.68 SEN937.68 BROWNSBERGER937.68 -937.68 HB937.68 2246937.68 -937.68 SB937.68 1331937.68 -937.68 Thank937.68 you937.85 so938 much.938.08 And938.57 thank938.73 you938.88 so939.2 much939.28 for939.45 reporting939.85 this940.32 out940.49 previously,940.73 and941.28 I941.52 hope941.61 we're941.85 able942 to942.16 do942.25 so942.4 early942.57 this942.88 session.943.13 I'll944 just,945.13 I945.28 know945.45 you945.61 know945.68 this,945.85 but946 just946.16 kind946.4 of946.49 for946.64 the946.8 benefit946.88 of947.37 of947.61 others947.76 listening,948.16 just948.88 say,949.2 you950.73 know,950.8 this950.96 is951.28 a951.61 bill951.76 that952 is,952.64 the954.56 way954.72 I954.88 look954.96 at955.12 this955.2 bill955.36 is955.6 shaped955.76 by956 my956.16 father's956.32 perspective956.72 on957.12 this957.28 bill,957.44 who957.68 was957.84 a958.16 psychiatrist958.48 who959.2 spent960.32 a960.56 lot960.64 of960.8 his960.96 retirement961.68 years962.16 working962.56 in962.88 hospice.963.12 And,964.16 you965.04 know,965.2 this965.36 bill965.6 is965.92 really966.08 about966.48 people968.23 being968.63 able968.79 to969.26 live969.5 out969.75 their969.9 last970.14 days970.38 without970.71 fear971.02 of971.26 suffering.971.5 It972.55 gives972.71 them972.95 the973.35 option973.59 to974.14 break975.02 the975.26 glass975.43 and975.83 exit976.07 if976.87 the977.11 pain977.99 associated978.71 with979.35 their979.5 terminal979.67 illness980.14 becomes980.55 too981.43 extreme.981.67 Most982.58 of982.74 the982.9 time,982.98 they're983.22 not983.38 gonna983.54 exercise983.78 it,984.26 but984.34 knowing984.58 that984.9 they985.06 have985.22 that985.46 option,985.7 in986.82 his986.98 view,987.3 really988.74 allows989.78 them990.18 to990.34 endure992.42 those992.9 last993.06 days993.38 without993.54 fear.994.34 And995.14 so995.38 I995.62 think995.78 that's996.5 a996.74 big996.9 deal997.14 in998.55 those998.71 dying998.88 days.999.43 The1000 fear1000.32 is1000.55 not1000.71 of1000.88 death,1001.03 the1001.27 fear1001.43 is1001.6 of1001.75 suffering,1002 and1002.39 this1002.63 gives1002.95 them1003.27 a1003.6 way1003.67 to1004 know1004.15 I'm1004.39 not1004.55 gonna1004.71 have1005.12 to1005.36 suffer,1005.51 if1006.79 I1007.03 have1008.07 a1008.24 way1008.39 out.1008.63 So1009.03 giving1009.27 people1009.51 a1009.83 way1009.91 out,1010.07 that's1010.32 what1010.48 this1010.71 is1010.88 really1011.03 about1011.27 in1011.75 my1012.07 view.1012.32 Thanks.1012.77 Thanks1013.01 so1013.49 much1013.65 for1013.73 all1013.89 your1014.05 consideration.1019.49
1019.49 SEN1019.49 FERNANDES1019.49 -1019.49 HB1019.49 22461019.49 -1019.49 SB1019.49 13311019.49 -1019.49 It's1019.81 great1020.05 to1020.29 be1020.45 before1020.61 this1021.01 committee.1021.33 Thank1023.01 you1023.25 for1024.05 your1024.37 support1025.18 of1025.51 this1025.66 in1026.79 the1026.95 past.1027.11 And1027.35 I'll1027.51 be1027.66 brief,1027.83 because1028.07 I've1028.31 testified1028.47 in1029.03 support1029.18 of1029.31 this1029.42 bill1029.66 on1029.9 multiple1030.55 occasions.1031.03 And1032.07 my1032.38 my,1032.71 dear1033.9 constituent,1034.22 Roger1034.79 Kligler,1035.11 has1035.59 been1035.74 a1036.22 leader1036.31 on1036.71 this1036.87 for1037.11 over1037.66 a1037.9 decade.1038.07 And1039 for1039.8 his1040.2 sake1040.36 and1040.68 for1040.84 so1041.16 many1041.24 people's1041.72 sake1042.12 out1042.44 there,1042.6 it'd1043.24 be1043.48 great1043.64 to1043.96 be1044.12 able1044.28 to1044.52 get1044.6 this1044.76 bill1045.24 done.1045.56 And1045.8 I'm1045.96 so1046.12 encouraged1046.36 by1046.76 this1046.92 committee1047.16 holding1047.56 this1047.88 hearing1048.36 so1048.76 early1049 in1050.28 the1050.44 session.1050.6 And1051.2 the1051.53 only1051.61 other1051.85 thing1052.09 I'll1052.33 add1052.48 is,1052.64 this1052.96 is1053.13 also1053.2 just1053.44 about1053.68 choice,1054.4 right?1055.85 This1055.85 is1056.09 a1056.33 choice1056.48 that1057.13 you1057.37 can1057.53 exercise1057.85 if1059.13 it's1059.29 the1059.53 right1059.77 thing1060.01 for1060.33 you,1060.57 and1060.88 you1061.29 meet1061.53 the1062.48 really1062.88 quite1063.61 stringent1063.92 requirements1065.05 to1065.92 be1066.09 able1066.24 to1066.48 exercise1067.44 that1068 right.1068.24 So1068.56 if1068.88 you1069.04 don't1069.28 support1069.6 it,1069.92 that's1070.64 fine.1071.04 If1071.44 you1071.68 don't1071.76 want1072 it,1072.32 that's1072.64 fine.1072.96 But1073.92 don't1074.24 make1074.56 other1074.88 people1075.12 needlessly1075.6 suffer1076.32 at1077.12 the1077.28 end1077.44 of1077.6 their1077.68 life1077.92 if1078.4 they1078.56 have1078.72 a1078.96 terminal1079.04 illness1079.52 because1079.92 of1080.24 your1080.4 own1080.64 personal1080.88 views.1081.44 No1082.41 one1082.65 should1084.26 have1084.65 to1084.98 go1085.13 through1085.38 that1085.62 excruciating1086.41 experience.1087.62 No1088.58 one1088.74 should1088.98 have1089.13 to1089.3 needlessly1091.3 suffer1091.93 if1092.98 they1093.22 don't1093.46 want1094.02 to.1094.26 So,1095.38 let's1096.02 give1096.34 people1096.58 this1096.98 right.1097.22 Let's1097.54 give1097.78 people1098.19 this1099.31 choice.1100.27 And1101.23 I1101.23 thank1101.39 you1101.55 for1101.71 your1101.87 support.1102.11
1105.31 SPEAKER11105.31 -1105.31 Thank1105.31 all1106.11 of1106.35 you1106.51 for1106.83 your1106.99 incredible1107.55 work.1108.11 Are1108.43 there1108.59 any1108.83 questions?1109.07 Representative1109.95 Sousa.1110.91
1113.68 REP1113.68 SOUSA1113.68 -1113.68 Thank1113.68 you1113.85 so1113.92 much1114.01 for1114.16 your1114.33 testimony.1114.48 I1114.88 just1115.21 have1115.45 a1115.53 quick1115.68 question.1115.92 In1116.72 other1116.96 states1117.29 where1119.77 this1120.01 provision's1120.24 been1121.29 adopted,1121.45 has1122.4 there,1122.81 especially1123.68 given1124.24 the1126.56 climate1126.56 where1126.96 doctors1127.28 are1127.6 sometimes1127.84 concerned1128.24 about1128.64 providing1128.88 medical1129.28 care1129.52 and1129.76 being1129.84 prosecuted1130.16 for1130.72 it,1130.96 has1132.08 there1132.4 been1132.56 any1132.72 provisions1132.96 in1133.28 place1133.44 or1133.6 any1133.76 discussion1133.92 in1134.56 protecting1134.8 doctors1135.36 administering1136 this1137.12 kind1137.36 of1137.52 treatment1137.6 and1138.8 as1139.36 far1139.52 as1139.68 protection1139.76 from1140.16 prosecution1140.32 goes?1140.96
1144.15 COMERFORD1144.15 -1144.15 Sure.1144.15 There1144.15 have1144.47 not1145.36 been1145.52 any1145.76 instances1145.99 where1146.63 medical1147.12 providers,1147.99 where1148.23 it1148.47 is1148.63 legal1148.8 in1149.2 the1149.28 state,1150.8 that1151.2 is1151.36 the1151.6 way1151.67 that1151.84 they1151.99 are1152.15 protected.1152.39 So1153.12 to1153.36 my1153.52 knowledge,1153.67 there1153.99 hasn't1154.23 been1154.56 any1154.71 instance1155.67 where1156.08 a1156.32 medical1156.48 provider1156.88 has1157.36 been1158.64 subject1159.76 to1160.4 penalties1160.72 for1161.68 engaging1163.12 in1164 something1164.08 like1164.48 this.1164.64
1166.08 SOUSA1166.08 -1166.08 Gotcha.1166.08 And1166.4 just1166.72 a1166.88 quick1167.04 follow-up,1167.2 even1167.76 across,1168 I1168.63 would1168.8 imagine1168.88 across1169.36 like1169.67 state1169.91 lines1170.23 and1170.63 people1171.52 traveling1171.99 for1173.04 this1173.28 kind1173.52 of1173.6 treatment,1173.67 but1174.47 there1174.63 hasn't,1174.8 to1176.39 our1176.56 knowledge,1176.8 been1177.36 anything1177.6 like1177.91 that,1178.32 correct?1179.12
1179.12 COMERFORD1179.12 -1179.12 No.1179.12
1179.43 SOUSA1179.43 -1179.43 Alright.1179.43 Thank1179.67 you.1179.91
1180.15 COMERFORD1180.15 -1180.15 Not1180.15 to1180.39 my1180.56 knowledge.1180.63 Do1180.96 you1181.12 guys1181.2 know?1181.52 No.1181.99 Good1183.52 question.1183.84
1185.89 DECKER1185.89 -1185.89 Thank1185.89 you.1186.05 And1186.29 I1186.45 think1186.53 we're1186.69 gonna1186.85 hear1187.09 a1187.25 lot1187.33 of1187.41 testimony1187.57 today,1188.13 but1188.37 I1188.53 also1188.85 if1189.65 there's1189.89 anything1190.05 else1190.29 that1190.53 you1190.61 would1190.77 like1190.93 to1191.09 say,1191.25 I1191.41 think1191.49 one1191.97 of1192.21 the1192.37 things1192.45 that1192.69 we1192.85 hear1193.01 is1193.33 that1193.49 this1194.21 prevents1194.45 people1194.93 from1195.41 having1195.65 to1195.97 suffer.1196.21 I1196.84 think1196.99 that's1197.15 a1197.32 part1197.63 of1197.88 it,1197.95 but1198.12 it's1198.19 important1198.52 to1198.91 know1199.08 that1199.32 that's1199.63 not1200.03 the1200.43 the1201.08 predetermining1201.32 issue1202.27 that1202.84 decides1203.08 whether1203.47 or1203.79 not1203.88 this1204.12 is1204.27 approved.1204.43 There's1204.84 actually1205.15 a1205.95 lot1206.12 of1206.27 regulations1206.43 that1207.15 actually1207.39 lead1207.88 up1208.12 in1209.12 consultation1209.36 with1210 both1210.32 psychiatric1210.8 and1211.44 medical1212 professionals1212.48 with1213.76 the1214.24 individual.1214.4 So1215.76 it's1216 not1216.24 just1216.4 whether1216.72 or1216.96 not1217.04 the1217.52 threshold1217.68 for1218.16 suffering1218.32 is1219.04 intolerable,1219.2 but1219.76 there's1220 actually1220.24 an1220.88 incredible1221.04 breadth1221.68 of1222.08 assessments1223.92 that1224.49 are1224.57 done1224.73 in1224.97 consultation1225.21 with1225.68 medical1225.92 providers.1226.25
1227.37 COMERFORD1227.37 -1227.37 Completely1227.37 correct,1227.92 chair.1228.33 They1229.21 have1229.45 to1229.61 be1229.68 mentally1229.85 capable,1230.33 physically1230.97 able1231.45 to1231.77 self1231.92 administer.1232.33 They1233.13 have1233.37 to1233.53 be1233.68 diagnosed1233.85 as1234.4 terminally1234.73 ill.1235.37 And1236.18 then1236.34 there1236.66 are1236.82 many1237.22 steps1237.7 that1238.5 they1238.74 have1238.98 to1239.22 go1239.78 through1239.94 including1240.66 a1241.22 mental1241.3 health1241.7 evaluation,1241.94 concurrence1243.7 with1244.18 another1244.42 physician,1244.9 numbers1245.86 and1246.26 numbers1246.42 of1246.82 steps.1246.98 And1247.62 this1247.86 is1248.02 to1248.33 protect1248.57 patients1249.05 from1250.4 being1250.73 coerced1251.37 in1251.85 any1252.01 way.1252.16 And1253.13 in1253.37 fact,1253.53 you1253.77 will1254.01 remember1254.16 this,1255.21 when1255.45 we1255.45 first1256.4 were1256.64 working1256.88 on1257.21 this1257.45 bill,1257.61 we1259.53 looked1260.29 at1260.61 witnesses,1261.49 right?1261.89 People1261.89 had1262.13 to1262.45 come1262.69 and1262.85 authorize,1263.25 you1263.81 know,1263.89 whether1264.13 or1264.37 not1264.45 someone1264.69 was1265.01 mentally1265.81 capable,1266.21 physically1267.17 able.1267.65
1268.37 And1268.37 what1268.53 we1268.77 heard1269.01 was,1269.41 it1270.21 wasn't1270.37 about1270.85 a1271.49 concern1271.65 regarding1272.85 someone's1273.25 estate1273.81 being1274.61 potentially1276.39 sought1277.12 after,1277.43 it1277.99 was1278.23 actually1278.48 the1279.28 reverse1279.43 of1279.91 that,1279.99 which1280.32 was1280.48 very1280.72 poignant.1280.96 It1281.67 was1281.76 people1282.48 who1282.96 were1283.28 concerned1283.67 that1284.32 they1284.48 would1284.63 be1284.88 coerced1285.2 into1286.48 having1286.96 to1287.36 do1287.6 this.1288.08 And1288.32 so1288.32 they1288.56 wanted1288.72 to1289.1 make1289.18 sure1289.34 that1289.7 one1290.06 of1290.3 the1290.54 people1290.62 who1290.94 would1291.1 come1291.34 and1291.5 witness1291.74 their1292.54 decision1292.78 wouldn't1293.42 be1293.58 having1294.78 to1295.1 be1295.26 physically1295.74 or1296.22 financially1297.5 liable1298.3 for1299.26 their1299.5 care,1300.54 right?1300.78 And1300.78 this1300.94 was1301.1 a1301.34 protection1301.5 that1302.38 we1302.54 put1302.78 into1302.94 the1303.26 bill1303.34 after1303.66 hearing1304.06 testimony.1304.46 So1306.99 it's1307.55 both1307.55 about1307.55 the1307.55 financial1307.79 benefit,1308.19 but1308.6 there1308.76 is1308.91 also1309.15 the1309.32 financial1309.47 liability,1310.03 potentially,1310.67 of1311.55 caring1311.79 for1312.03 someone.1312.19 And1312.51 it1312.76 was1312.99 one1313.55 of1313.79 many,1313.88 many,1314.36 many1314.67 triggers1315.39 in1315.88 the1316.03 bill1316.27 that,1316.43 or1317.71 guardrails,1317.95 that1319.07 would1319.31 protect1319.47 people.1319.87
1321.47 SPEAKER11321.47 -1321.47 Thank1321.47 you,1321.71 senator.1321.87 I1323.79 wanna1323.95 thank1324.27 all1324.59 31324.75 of1324.99 you1325.15 for1325.23 your1325.47 work1325.55 on1325.79 this1325.87 and1326.11 many1326.27 other1326.59 issues.1326.83 Nice1327.79 to1328.03 see1328.19 you.1328.27 Thank1328.35
1329.31 SPEAKER101329.31 -1329.31 you,1329.31 mister1329.47 chair.1329.79 Thank1330.11 you,1330.35 madam1330.51 chair,1330.91 so1331.23 much.1331.39
1332.35 SPEAKER131332.35 -1332.35 Any1332.35 other1332.59 question?1332.75
1333.15 SPEAKER101333.15 -1333.15 Members1333.15 of1333.47 the1333.55 committee.1333.63
1334.03 SPEAKER131334.03 -1334.03 Excuse1334.03 me?1334.43
1337.25 Senator1337.25 Dooney.1337.88
1339.01 SEN1339.01 DOONER1339.01 -1339.01 Thank1339.01 you.1339.25 Just1340.05 quickly,1340.61 is1341.81 there1342.05 any1342.29 concern1342.61 around,1343.16 I1344.92 don't1345.09 know1345.33 how1345.49 else1345.81 other1346.29 to1346.61 put1346.77 this,1346.92 but1347.16 insurance1347.49 companies1348.05 potentially,1348.77 I1351.14 don't1351.22 wanna1351.46 say1351.62 capitalizing1351.94 on1352.82 this,1352.98 but1353.3 having1353.62 an1354.18 influence1354.42 on1355.14 people1355.38 making1355.78 decisions?1356.26 Has1357.86 that1358.18 been1358.34 looked1358.74 at?1358.98
1361.86 BROWNSBERGER1361.86 -1361.86 That1361.86 might1362.1 cut1362.34 the1362.58 other1362.74 way,1363.38 right?1365.24
1365.24 DOONER1365.24 -1365.24 Debatable.1365.24
1366.13 BROWNSBERGER1366.13 -1366.13 Yeah.1366.13 I1366.37 mean,1366.45 but1367.33 you1367.48 may1367.64 have1367.81 a1367.88 better1367.97 answer.1368.29 I1368.53 know1368.61 this1368.77 Jo's1369.33 done1369.64 so1369.88 much1369.97 work,1370.13 Senator1370.53 Comerford's1370.92 done1371.24 so1371.4 much1371.57 wonderful1371.81 work1372.13 to1372.29 add1372.45 safeguards,1372.68 and1373.24 I1373.33 know1373.4 and1373.64 as1373.81 well1373.88 as1374.05 with1374.77 working1374.92 with1375.24 Rep1375.4 Decker,1375.97 so1376.13 I1376.13 appreciate1376.21 that.1376.68 But1377.48 I'll1377.97 let1378.21 them1378.29 defer1378.85 to1378.93 that.1379.01
1379.49 DOONER1379.49 -1379.49 Thank1379.49 you.1379.97
1380.21 COMERFORD1380.21 -1380.21 Not1380.21 to1380.53 my1380.69 knowledge,1380.85 senator.1381.49 And1381.97 it's1382.13 a1382.29 good1382.45 question.1382.61 I1383.01 think1383.17 all1383.49 good1383.81 questions1384.05 are1384.53 welcome.1384.69 But1385.81 in1386.05 fact,1386.21 there1386.45 are1386.69 so1386.93 many1387.09 steps1387.57 that1388.05 prevent1388.37 coercion1389.41 in1390.05 this1390.29 bill.1390.61 Again,1392.15 it's1392.71 known1393.04 as1393.36 the1393.67 strongest1393.99 by1394.71 far,1395.04 hands1395.43 down1395.76 bill1396.15 in1396.47 the1396.55 nation.1396.71 And1397.52 again,1397.67 we1398.47 rub1398.8 against1399.12 that1399.43 from1399.67 the1399.91 other1399.99 way.1400.32 We1400.71 don't1400.88 wanna1401.12 make1401.36 it1401.6 so1401.84 prohibitive1402.15 that1402.8 people1402.95 can't1403.28 access1403.6 it,1403.99 but1404.39 there1404.63 are,1404.8 and1405.04 I'm1405.19 happy1405.43 to1405.76 provide1405.84 you1406.15 with1406.32 this.1406.47 In1406.63 fact,1406.8 we'll1407.09 follow-up,1407.25 the1408.05 committee1408.21 has1408.69 this,1408.93 but1409.17 I'm1409.41 happy1409.57 to1409.81 provide1409.97 you1410.37 with1410.53 the1411.17 steps1411.33 that1411.73 an1411.89 individual1412.13 has1412.85 to1413.09 make1413.25 it1413.49 through1413.73 with1414.53 so1414.93 many1415.17 medical1415.49 providers1415.97 in1417.01 order1417.25 to1417.73 make1417.89 this1418.13 decision.1418.45 It1419.97 would1420.21 be1420.37 very1420.53 difficult1420.77 for1421.25 an1421.33 insurance1421.74 company1421.98 to1422.63 force1423.03 that1423.51 individual1423.74 to1424.7 make1424.87 this1425.03 decision.1425.18 The1426.79 things1427.18 is1427.42 what1427.59 Senator1428.22 Fernandes1428.7 and1428.7 Senator1428.79 Brownsberger1429.11 also1429.74 said,1429.98 it's1430.14 an1431.11 option.1431.35 It's1431.83 not1432.14 a1432.31 mandate.1432.46
1434.36 BROWNSBERGER1434.36 -1434.36 And1434.36 just1434.6 to1434.72 underline1434.84 it,1435.24 I1435.4 mean,1435.48 the1436.2 insurance1436.36 company1436.76 profits1437.08 when1437.4 somebody,1437.56 I1437.88 mean,1437.96 the1438.12 insurance1438.2 company1438.52 pays1438.76 out1439 when1439.16 somebody1439.32 dies,1439.88 so1440.04 the1440.04 last1440.2 thing1440.36 they1440.52 wanna1440.68 do1440.92 is1441.08 make1441.24 somebody1441.48 die.1441.8 And1442.36 they1442.52 the1443 last1443.08 thing1443.24 they1443.4 wanna1443.56 do1443.8 is1443.96 accelerate1444.12 it,1444.52 so1445.08 that1445.24 it1445.48 happens1445.56 during1445.96 the1446.2 term1446.28 of1446.52 their1446.6 insurance1446.76 policy.1447.32 I1447.37 don't1447.38 see1447.4 the1447.42 insurance1447.43 company's1447.45 interest1447.46 in1447.48 that.1447.56
1450.58 DOONER1450.58 -1450.58 Yeah.1450.58 I1450.89 just1450.97 like1451.62 to1451.78 look1451.93 at1452.17 it1452.34 from1452.49 both1452.73 sides1452.89 and1453.3 make1453.54 sure1453.7 that,1454.02 you1454.26 know,1454.41 that1454.73 is1454.97 a1455.21 concern1455.38 and1455.78 that1456.02 is1456.17 on,1456.97 you1457.54 know,1457.7 everyone's1457.86 radar1458.41 because1458.73 they're1459.06 gonna1459.3 find1459.54 a1459.7 way1459.78 to1459.93 capitalize1460.1 on1460.97 everything.1461.13
1462.1 COMERFORD1462.1 -1462.1 Yeah.1462.1 Fair1462.49 point.1462.73
1463.06 FERNANDES1463.06 -1463.06 And1463.06 the1463.3 only1463.7 other1463.86 thing1464.1 I'd1464.34 add1464.49 is1464.73 that,1464.89 this1465.43 isn't1465.59 novel,1466.63 in1467.19 any1467.35 way,1467.59 legislation.1467.83 I1468.47 mean,1468.55 it's1469.11 more1469.35 strict1470.07 than1470.39 other1470.47 states,1470.71 but1470.95 many1471.27 other1471.59 states1471.75 have1472.07 this.1472.87 States1473.99 who1473.99 are1473.99 North1473.99 have1473.99 this.1474.23 And1474.39 I've1474.55 had1474.71 constituents,1474.87 actually1476.15 look1476.55 at,1477.27 and1477.65 actually1477.73 some1478.05 have1478.49 exercised1478.93 and1479.41 and1479.65 gone1479.82 up1480.13 to1482.29 Vermont1483.1 to1483.1 be1483.26 able1483.34 to1483.65 to1483.82 die1484.05 peacefully.1484.29 And1485.41 so,1485.65 to1486.86 my1487.01 knowledge,1487.26 in1487.89 all1488.21 the1488.53 other1488.62 states1488.86 that1489.17 have1489.58 this1489.82 I1490.05 don't1490.29 have1490.45 any1490.53 of1490.69 these,1491.01 kind1491.82 of1492.05 insurance1492.13 issues.1492.53
1492.86 BROWNSBERGER1492.86 -1492.86 And1493.24 just1493.4 to1493.56 correct1493.64 the1494.04 record1494.12 on1494.44 your1494.84 statement,1495 it1495.4 said1495.72 it's1495.96 more1496.12 strict1496.44 in1496.76 other1496.84 states.1497.16 What1497.88 you1498.04 meant,1498.28 what1498.52 you1498.68 said1498.92 was1499.16 it's1499.4 more1499.56 strict1499.88 than1500.28 in1500.6 other1500.76 states.1501.08
1501.64 FERNANDES1501.64 -1501.64 Thank1501.64 you,1501.88 Will.1502.04
1502.52 BROWNSBERGER1502.84 -1502.84 That's1502.84 why1503.24 they1503.48 took1503.56 it1503.72 down1503.88 on1504.04 us.1504.2
1504.36 SPEAKER161504.36 -1504.36 So1504.36 Thank1504.52 you,1504.68 Senator.1504.84 It's1505.32 great1505.56
1505.8 SPEAKER111505.8 -1505.8 to1505.8 have1505.88 that1506.08
1506.28 SPEAKER41506.28 -1506.28 here.1506.28 Thank1506.52
1506.76 SPEAKER111506.76 -1506.76 you.1506.76 Yeah.1507.08
1507.48 SPEAKER171507.48 -1507.48 Thank1507.48 you.1507.72 K.1507.97
1508.82 SPEAKER11508.82 -1508.82 Thank1508.82 you.1508.89
1512.26 House1512.26 241512.58 24,1513.13 an1513.62 act1513.78 requiring1514.02 automated1514.58 external1515.13 defibrillator1515.78 devices1517.13 in1517.62 health1517.7 clubs.1518.02 This1519.06 time,1519.3 there's1519.54 no1519.78 11519.93 here1520.17 to1520.41 testify.1520.58 I1521.06 I1521.24 have1521.48 heard1521.64 from,1522.28 representative,1523.08 Garberly1523.88 who1524.44 filed1524.68 the1524.84 bill1525 and1525.24 who1525.4 provided1525.64 testimony1526.12 to1526.84 me1527.08 and1527.24 to1527.4 the1527.56 committee.1527.72 So1528.12 thank1528.28 you.1528.52 House1530.44 241530.84 65,1531.56 senate1532.28 151532.68 401533.16 1,1533.56 enact1534.28 relative1534.67 to1535.08 athletic1535.32 training.1535.8 We1536.36 have1536.6 a1536.67 panel.1536.76 I1537.88 have1538.04 Robert1538.6 Calandrio1538.91 and1539.56 Jennifer1539.8 Concannon.1540.28 Welcome.1540.84
1560.15 ROBERT1560.15 COLANDREO1560.15 -1560.15 BRIDGEWATER1560.15 STATE1560.15 UNIVERSITY1560.15 -1560.15 HB1560.15 24651560.15 -1560.15 SB1560.15 15411560.15 -1560.15 HB1560.15 23911560.15 -1560.15 HB1560.15 24241560.15 -1560.15 HB1560.15 25561560.15 -1560.15 Chair1560.15 Decker,1560.32 Chair1560.63 Driscoll,1560.95 members1561.36 of1561.67 the1561.84 committee,1561.91 thank1562.32 you1562.55 for1562.71 the1562.88 opportunity1562.95 to1563.51 speak1563.67 this1563.91 morning1564.15 in1564.47 support1564.71 of1565.12 House1568.08 24651568.55 Senate1568.55 1541,1568.55 an1568.55 act1568.63 relative1568.79 to1569.27 athletic1569.36 training.1569.76 I'm1570.23 Robert1570.47 Colandreo,1570.79 professor1571.43 of1571.91 health1571.99 sciences1572.15 at1572.71 Bridgewater1572.88 State1573.51 and1573.84 the1573.91 current1574.08 government1574.32 affairs1574.95 committee1575.27 chair1575.67 for1575.91 the1576.13 Athletic1576.53 Trainers1576.77 of1576.77 Massachusetts.1577.01 I've1578.05 been1578.29 licensed1578.53 as1579.09 an1579.25 athletic1579.41 trainer1579.73 in1580.05 the1580.13 Commonwealth1580.21 since1580.69 1995.1580.93 The1582.93 1981,1583.65 821584.13 legislative1584.61 session1585.25 saw1585.73 the1585.97 bill1586.13 creating1586.37 the1586.77 Board1586.85 of1587.17 Allied1587.25 Health1587.57 Professions1587.89 and1588.53 Licensure1588.69 for1589.41 athletic1589.49 trainers,1590.05 occupational,1590.77 and1591.41 physical1591.57 therapists1592.08 signed1592.47 into1592.63 law1592.95 by1593.19 Governor1593.36 King.1593.67 Facing1594.88 opposition1595.43 at1595.99 the1596.08 time,1596.23 athletic1596.63 trainers1597.04 compromised1597.6 on1598.15 language1598.39 restricting1598.88 our1599.43 workplace1599.6 and1600.23 patient1600.39 population.1600.88 Not1602.15 ideal,1602.32 but1602.71 Massachusetts1602.95 became1603.84 the1604.15 fifth1604.32 state1604.56 in1604.8 country1605.11 to1605.43 statutorily1605.51 protect1606.31 the1606.87 practice1607.03 of1607.43 athletic1607.67 training1608.07 and1608.39 the1608.55 title1608.71 of1608.95 athletic1609.19 trainer.1609.59 We're1610.31 the1610.55 second1610.63 to1611.03 do1611.11 so1611.35 via1611.59 licensure.1611.91 We1613.27 knew1613.51 we1613.67 could1613.83 always1613.99 petition1614.47 the1615.03 legislature1615.11 for1615.83 updates1616.07 as1616.55 our1616.71 profession1616.87 evolved.1617.35
1618.63 Our1618.63 profession1618.95 has1619.27 evolved1619.51 greatly1619.83 in1620.23 421620.47 years1620.95 but1621.35 our1621.51 statute1621.66 language1622.14 has1622.55 not.1622.79 Our1623.42 new1623.66 professionals1623.9 have1624.55 skills1624.71 they're1625.11 unable1625.27 to1625.66 fully1625.83 utilize1626.14 in1626.55 clinical1626.71 practice.1627.18 As1628.31 a1628.47 result,1628.55 they1629.03 leave1629.18 the1629.42 state1629.59 for1629.74 better1629.9 opportunities1630.23 and1630.87 better1631.03 pay.1631.35 Expanding1632.46 access1633.1 to1633.5 athletic1633.74 trainers1634.14 and1634.46 athletic1634.62 training1635.02 by1635.34 removing1635.5 the1635.9 workplace1636.06 restriction1636.54 language1637.1 is1637.66 a1637.82 much1637.82 needed1638.22 first1638.7 step1638.94 to1639.26 retaining1639.42 our1639.9 workforce.1640.06 Athletic1641.66 trainers1642.06 specialize1642.46 in1642.94 injury1643.18 prevention.1643.5 Public1644.22 safety1644.62 entities1644.94 like1645.5 the1645.66 Fairfax1645.74 County1646.3 Virginia1646.62 Sheriff's1647.18 Office1647.58 and1647.9 San1648.23 Antonio1648.56 Fire1649.36 Department1649.84 hire1649.84 athletic1650.15 trainers.1650.56 Both1651.6 have1651.84 saved1652.08 hundreds1652.39 of1652.8 thousands1652.96 of1653.36 dollars1653.52 in1654.15 healthcare1654.63 costs1654.88 and1655.67 in1656.63 overtime1656.8 cost1657.36 savings.1657.67 Companies1658.96 like1659.43 Boeing,1659.67 Amazon,1660.15 Toyota,1660.8 and1661.28 Turner1661.43 Construction1661.76 also1662.51 hire1662.75 athletic1663.15 trainers1663.55 for1663.87 injury1664.03 prevention1664.43 and1664.91 emergent1665.07 care1665.47 in1665.71 the1665.87 workplace.1666.03 This1666.99 bill1667.23 will1667.47 allow1667.71 companies1668.03 to1668.51 bring1668.67 these1668.91 care1669.15 models1669.47 to1669.87 Massachusetts1670.11 and1670.91 public1671.15 safety1671.47 entities1671.87 will1672.35 now1672.51 be1672.75 able1672.83 to1673.07 access1673.23 our1673.55 services1673.71 as1674.27 well.1674.43
1677.42 This1678.55 bill1678.79 will1679.03 also1679.11 add1679.42 athletic1679.59 trainers1679.9 as1680.31 a1680.47 provider1680.63 to1681.03 the1681.35 high1681.51 school1681.74 football1682.07 medical1682.47 coverage1682.87 law.1683.18 The1683.9 addition1684.14 will1684.55 align1684.71 the1685.03 current1685.18 state1685.51 law1685.74 with1685.98 the1686.14 MIA's1686.31 medical1686.95 coverage1687.27 rule.1688.38 And1688.87 this1688.87 discrepancy1689.18 is1689.9 typically1690.07 problematic1690.55 during1691.27 weekday1692.28 sub1692.52 varsity1692.84 football1693.32 games1693.72 that1694.04 take1694.28 place1694.52 at1694.76 schools1694.92 where1695.24 only1695.56 an1695.8 athletic1695.96 trainer1696.36 tends1696.76 to1697 be1697.16 present.1697.32 We'd1699.08 also1699.32 like1699.56 to1699.72 voice1699.88 support1700.2 for1700.6 House1700.76 2391,1701.08 2424,1705.08 and1705.89 2556.1705.89 Any1705.89 bill1706.21 that1706.29 will1706.53 potentially1706.86 increase1707.41 access1707.97 to1708.38 an1708.53 AED1708.77 and1709.65 a1710.05 trained1710.13 provider1710.62 to1711.82 allow1711.97 for1712.13 three1712.38 minutes1712.62 or1712.93 less1713.17 access1713.41 to1713.82 an1713.89 AED1714.13 is1714.77 common1715.01 sense1715.34 necessity.1715.82 In1717.17 closing,1717.34 I'd1717.82 like1717.97 to1718.13 thank1718.21 Chair1718.45 Decker1718.69 and1719.1 Vice1719.25 Kerans1719.41 for1719.82 your1719.97 efforts1720.05 during1720.45 last1720.77 last1720.98 session.1721.22 We1721.46 appreciate1721.7 the1722.18 time1722.26 your1722.58 staff1722.74 put1723.06 into1723.3 researching1723.54 our1724.02 issue1724.18 and1724.42 we1724.66 look1724.74 forward1724.9 to1725.14 working1725.3 with1725.54 the1725.66 committee1725.78 again1726.18 this1726.58 session1726.74 for1727.14 a1727.3 favorable1727.38 report.1728.02 Thank1729.14 you.1729.3
1732.1 JENNIFER1732.1 CONCANNON1732.1 -1732.1 ATOM1732.1 -1732.1 HB1732.1 24651732.1 -1732.1 SB1732.1 15411732.1 -1732.1 HB1732.1 23911732.1 -1732.1 HB1732.1 24241732.1 -1732.1 HB1732.1 25561732.1 -1732.1 Good1732.1 morning,1732.42 members1732.66 of1733.06 the1733.22 public1733.3 health1733.62 committee.1733.86 My1734.26 name1734.42 is1734.5 Jennifer1734.74 Concannon1735.14 and1735.78 I1735.86 currently1736.02 serve1736.5 as1736.74 the1737.01 president1737.09 for1737.4 the1737.64 Athletic1738.21 Trainers1738.61 of1738.61 Massachusetts.1738.77 I1739.88 also1740.13 own1740.53 and1740.77 operate1740.92 a1741.33 private1741.49 practice1741.81 athletic1742.29 training1742.68 facility1743.01 located1743.64 in1743.97 Weymouth,1744.13 Massachusetts.1744.68 And1745.73 today,1746.05 I'm1746.45 here1746.61 to1747.01 support1747.24 the1747.81 act1748.05 relative1748.45 to1748.85 athletic1749.09 training.1749.4 As1750.26 you1750.34 previously1750.9 heard1751.38 from1751.54 Bob,1751.7 an1751.94 act1752.1 relative1752.34 to1752.74 athletic1752.9 training1753.22 will1753.62 help1753.78 to1753.94 update1754.1 the1755.22 workplace1755.38 restrictions1755.86 for1756.34 athletic1756.58 trainers1756.98 currently1757.46 in1757.78 the1757.86 Commonwealth.1758.02 With1758.98 the1759.14 removal1759.3 of1759.78 the1759.86 restrictive1759.94 language,1760.58 athletic1760.98 trainers1761.38 will1761.78 be1761.94 able1762.02 to1762.26 assist1762.42 in1762.9 a1763.06 critical1763.14 area1764.21 in1764.37 need1764.53 of1764.77 quality1765.01 healthcare,1765.57 the1765.97 occupational1766.21 workforce.1766.85 This1768.21 population1768.45 may1769.09 frequently1769.24 seek1769.88 unnecessary1770.29 emergency1771.09 room1771.57 visits1771.88 and1772.29 delayed1772.53 care1772.92 due1773.24 to1773.4 accessibility1773.57 limitations.1774.37
1775.57 According1775.57 to1775.97 the1776.13 Bureau1776.29 of1776.77 Labor1777.4 Statistics,1778.13 private1778.13 industries1778.53 reported1778.84 almost1779.15 31788.48 million1788.48 non1788.48 fata1788.48 injuries1788.48 and1788.48 illnesses1788.48 among1788.48 employees.1788.48 These1788.48 injuries1788.48 and1788.48 illnesses1788.48 sustained1788.48 in1788.48 the1788.48 workforce1788.48 might1788.48 account1788.48 for1788.48 concussions1788.48 and1789.2 musculoskeletal1789.52 disorders.1790.48 Athletic1791.68 trainers1792 are1792.48 specifically1792.64 trained1793.28 in1793.68 the1793.76 area1794.22 of1794.46 injury1794.79 and1795.11 illness1795.74 prevention1796.14 and1796.87 are1797.11 well1797.27 suited1797.51 to1797.83 appropriately1798.07 manage1798.63 and1799.03 refer1799.18 patients1799.59 away1799.98 from1800.22 entering1800.46 the1800.79 healthcare1801.18 system1801.42 via1802.22 the1802.55 emergency1802.7 department,1803.18 the1804.22 most1804.38 expensive1804.7 access1805.27 point.1805.66 Athletic1806.14 trainers1806.55 have1806.94 continued1807.18 to1807.66 expand1807.83 upon1808.3 their1808.55 practice,1808.7 demonstrating1809.99 cost1810.47 reduction,1810.79 improved1811.67 patient1811.99 satisfaction,1812.55 and1813.19 accessibility1813.35 in1814.23 other1814.39 states.1814.71 Unlike1815.75 our1816.15 other1816.31 allied1816.63 healthcare1817.51 colleagues,1817.83 athletic1818.39 training1818.79 is1819.11 a1819.27 field1819.43 based1819.75 form1820.07 of1820.47 medical1820.87 care,1821.43 allowing1821.99 for1822.47 the1822.63 prevention,1822.79 triage,1823.59 care,1824.23 and1824.55 referral1824.92 when1825.24 injuries1825.72 occur1826.13 in1826.45 the1826.61 place1826.77 of1827.01 employment.1827.24
1828.37 A1828.37 national1828.61 survey1829.01 conducted1829.4 by1829.88 the1830.05 NETA1830.29 on1831.4 industrial1831.64 companies1832.29 who1832.77 employ1832.92 athletic1833.4 trainers1833.88 identified1834.45 a1835.01 reduction1835.16 greater1835.57 than1835.88 25%1836.68 in1837.09 workman's1837.33 comp1837.88 claims1838.37 for1838.93 musculoskeletal1839.17 disorders.1841.17 Half1841.57 of1841.81 the1841.97 companies1842.13 surveyed1842.61 reported1843.97 a1844.45 decrease1844.53 of1844.93 at1845.17 least1845.25 50%1845.81 in1846.21 work1846.37 related1846.69 injuries1847.17 among1847.65 employees.1847.97 And1848.85 not1849.17 only1849.41 are1851.42 the1851.59 numbers1851.66 of1851.98 injuries1852.14 sustained1852.55 in1852.87 the1852.94 workplace1853.18 minimized1853.59 through1854.14 employing1854.38 athletic1854.87 trainers,1855.18 but1855.66 also1855.83 the1856.14 severity1856.3 of1856.79 injuries1857.03 decreased1857.51 by1857.98 25%.1858.79 When1859.98 injuries1860.22 do1860.7 occur,1860.94 the1861.18 presence1861.27 of1861.66 an1861.74 athletic1861.9 trainer1862.3 allows1862.79 employees1863.25 to1863.41 be1863.57 progressed1863.97 back1864.45 into1864.69 the1864.93 demands1865.09 of1865.57 work1865.65 through1866.53 a1867.01 return1867.17 to1867.49 work1867.65 program,1867.89 safely,1868.53 and1869.01 effectively.1869.17 Approximately1870.13 50%1871.09 of1871.41 companies1871.57 that1872.05 provide1872.21 an1872.61 on-site1872.85 physical1873.49 rehabilitation1873.97 program1875.25 illustrated1875.65 a1876.37 50%1876.53 decrease1877.25 in1877.68 health1877.92 care1878.16 costs1878.4 and1878.64 savings.1878.88 We1879.77 look1879.92 forward1880.16 to1880.4 working1880.57 with1880.97 the1881.21 members1881.37 of1881.77 the1882.33 public1882.49 health1882.81 committee,1882.97 and1883.29 we1883.53 thank1883.61 you1883.77 for1883.92 your1884.09 time1884.25 this1884.49 morning.1884.73
1886.73 SPEAKER11886.73 -1886.73 Thank1886.73 you1886.88 both.1887.13 Are1887.45 there1887.61 any1887.68 questions?1887.92 Okay.1889.53 Thank1890.42 you1890.58 both1890.82 for1890.9 your1891.18 time.1891.46
1894.66 K.1894.66 House1895.3 241895.7 75,1896.26 senate1896.98 151897.38 301897.78 3,1898.02 enact1898.42 relative1898.82 to1899.22 student1899.38 safety1899.78 in1900.18 interscholastic1900.34 athletic1901.38 activities.1901.94 I1902.78 have1902.93 no1903.01 11903.1 here1903.41 today1903.65 signed1904.05 up1904.38 to,1904.62 speak1905.34 on1905.65 that,1905.82 but1906.05 I1906.21 have1906.38 heard1906.62 from1906.86 both,1907.41 the1908.13 senator1908.3 and1908.78 the1909.02 representative1909.1 on1909.73 this1909.89 bill.1910.13 So1911.41 thank1911.58 you.1911.82 At1914.3 this1914.45 time,1914.69 we're1915.1 going1915.34 to1915.58 move1915.73 on1916.05 to1916.3 house1916.54 251916.86 01917.49 5,1917.82 senate1918.44 141918.84 86,1919.48 an1920.52 act1920.68 to1920.92 relative1921.64 to1922.2 end1922.44 of1922.6 life1922.84 options.1923.24 I'm1924.68 going1925 to1925.32 welcome1925.96 before1926.44 me,1926.84 Elias1928.68 Lieberman,1929.24 retired1930.04 rabbi1930.6 from1931.16 the1931.4 Falmouth1931.56 of1932.12 the1932.28 Jewish1932.44 congregation.1932.84 Rabbi,1934.2 are1934.68 you1934.8 here?1934.92
1938.13 SPEAKER181938.13 -1938.13 Okay.1938.13
1941.8 SPEAKER11941.8 -1941.8 Oh,1941.8 are1941.96 you1942.04 virtual?1942.2
1950.55 Rabbi1950.55 Lieberman,1950.95 are1951.51 you1951.75 on1951.91 the1952.71 Teams?1952.87
1961.59 K.1961.59 We1961.83 don't1961.99 see,1962.31 Rabbi1963.03 Lieberman1963.43 on1963.99 the1964.15 Teams1964.31
1967.4 list1967.4 here,1967.72 so1968.05 we1968.37 will1968.53 try1969.24 to1969.64 come1969.72 back1969.96 if1970.29 we1970.45 can.1970.61 I'm1973.09 going1973.4 to1973.64 invite,1973.81
1977.64 Jim1977.64 Sorrell.1978.05 I1978.68 have1978.77 J.1979.01 M.1979.16 Sorrell,1979.48 former1980.95 executive1981.35 director1981.83 of1982.79 Massachusetts1983.19 Death1983.83 with1984.07 Dignity,1984.31 here1985.91 virtually.1986.39 Are1987.83 you1987.99 on1988.07 Teams?1988.31
1989.91 SPEAKER191989.91 -1989.91 I1989.91 am.1990.07 Can1990.39 you1990.55 hear1990.71 me?1990.87
1991.27 SPEAKER11991.27 -1991.27 JM.1991.27 Yep.1991.75 Welcome.1992.15
1993.35 SPEAKER191993.35 -1993.35 Let1993.35 me1993.51 get1993.67 my1993.91 camera1994.07 on1994.47 too.1994.63 There.1996.21 Thank1996.61 you1996.77 so1997.01 much.1997.16 Lucky1998.37 me1998.68 that1998.85 I1999.01 don't1999.09 have1999.33 to1999.48 wait1999.57 several1999.81 hours.2000.21
2002.37 J2002.37 M2002.37 SORRELL2002.37 -2002.37 CONCERNED2002.37 CITIZEN2002.37 -2002.37 HB2002.37 25052002.37 -2002.37 SB2002.37 14862002.37 -2002.37 So2002.37 thank2002.61 you2002.85 Senate2003.09 and2003.48 House2003.97 chairs,2004.29 and2004.29 members2004.45 of2004.85 the2005.01 Joint2005.48 Committee2005.88 on2005.88 Public2006.37 Health.2007.01 I2007.01 am2007.16 J2007.48 M2007.81 Sorrell.2007.81 I2008.21 live2008.29 in2008.53 Haydenville,2008.68 a2009.33 village2009.48 of2009.81 Williamsburg2009.88 in2010.61 Western2010.77 Massachusetts.2011.09 Thank2012.82 you2013.06 for2013.22 this2013.38 hearing2013.54 today2013.86 and2014.1 for2014.26 previous2014.5 years2014.9 when2015.22 you've2015.38 moved2015.7 an2016.26 act2016.5 relative2016.82 to2017.3 end2017.46 of2017.62 life2017.78 options2018.18 forward.2018.74 I'm2019.86 testifying2020.1 to2020.82 support2020.98 legislation2021.38 that2022.02 will2022.18 finally2022.34 give2022.74 Massachusetts2022.98 residents2023.7 the2024.18 dignity2024.34 and2024.82 respect2024.98 they2025.46 deserve2025.62 if2026.47 they're2026.56 near2026.8 end2027.12 of2027.28 life2027.43 and2027.67 can2027.91 exercise2028.23 control2028.88 to2029.43 end2029.6 tremendous2029.91 suffering.2030.39 For2031.43 212031.76 years,2032.23 I've2032.47 been2032.63 a2032.8 healthcare2032.88 advocate2033.28 for2033.84 older2033.99 adults2034.32 and2034.8 for2034.96 veterans2035.2 of2035.67 all2035.76 ages.2036.08 I've2037.36 supported2037.67 long2038.23 term2038.39 care2038.63 residents2038.88 and2039.28 their2039.43 families2039.67 at2040.08 end2040.23 of2040.39 life.2040.47 After2041.63 death2041.87 processes2042.27 where2042.83 loved2043.15 ones2043.39 and2043.63 patients2043.79 endured2044.27 suffering,2044.67 I've2045.47 been2045.63 asked2045.79 where2046.11 did2046.35 we2046.51 go2046.67 wrong2046.91 and2047.79 why2047.95 didn't2048.19 our2048.43 mom2048.59 get2048.91 to2049.07 be2049.23 free2049.39 of2049.63 pain2049.79 and2050.03 die2050.19 peacefully?2050.43 Other2051.63 times,2051.87 dying2052.27 patients2052.51 and2052.91 families2053.15 have2053.63 felt2053.79 well2054.03 served2054.35 throughout2055.2 the2055.59 death2055.76 process.2055.99 Each2056.64 person2056.88 dies2057.36 differently.2058.08 Some2059.99 people2060.32 are2061.04 served2061.2 well2061.52 by2061.76 hospice2061.91 services2062.32 and2062.72 palliative2062.88 care2063.36 physicians.2063.59 However,2064.88 the2065.36 healthcare2065.52 system2065.91 at2066.32 large2066.47 focuses2066.88 on2067.36 intervention2067.59 even2068.66 when2068.9 futility2069.06 and2069.7 suffering2069.86 ensue.2070.34 This2071.62 is2071.86 unconscionable.2072.1 Just2073.78 as2074.02 people2074.18 have2074.5 individual2074.74 choices2075.38 and2075.94 paths2076.1 throughout2076.42 their2076.82 lives,2076.98 they2077.7 also2077.94 have2078.18 individual2078.5 needs2079.06 near2079.38 end2079.62 of2079.78 life2079.94 and2080.66 people2080.82 deserve2081.05 the2081.61 respect2081.86 of2082.26 choice2082.49 and2082.89 control2083.14 when2083.53 they2083.7 need2083.86 it2084.01 the2084.18 most.2084.34 Palliative2085.3 care2085.78 may2086.09 not2086.34 go2086.49 far2086.73 enough2086.89 when2087.21 someone2087.38 wants2087.7 to2088.01 end2088.09 profound2088.34 suffering.2088.82 Other2089.86 states2090.18 have2090.41 this2090.66 choice2090.82 in2091.14 place,2091.3 including2091.61 our2092.01 neighbor,2092.18 Vermont.2092.49 This2093.26 is2093.42 long2093.58 overdue.2093.82 As2094.78 you2095.02 know,2095.18 senator2095.42 Joe2095.9 Comerford2096.14 and2096.7 representative2096.86 Jim2097.5 O'Day2097.74 have2098.14 worked2098.3 diligently2098.54 to2099.5 include2099.66 type2100.06 language2100.3 for2100.78 the2100.94 parameters2101.1 to2101.74 access2101.9 to2102.7 access2102.94 medical2103.42 aid2103.82 in2104.06 dying.2104.22 No2104.78 12104.94 can2105.1 be2105.26 coerced2105.5 to2105.9 make2106.06 the2106.3 choice,2106.38 and2107.09 the2107.34 person2107.49 has2107.89 to2108.14 have2108.22 an2108.53 absolute2108.78 terminal2109.41 illness2109.89 with2110.7 the2110.93 short2111.09 time2111.34 to2111.57 live2111.73 with2112.45 confirmation2112.78 from2113.34 medical2113.57 professionals2114.14 that2115.01 the2115.26 person2115.34 understands2116.05 and2117.34 wants2117.57 the2117.97 option.2118.22 I2119.22 have2119.38 seen2119.54 too2119.78 many2119.94 people2120.26 die2120.58 through2120.82 increased2121.14 suffering2121.54 rather2122.34 than2122.58 an2122.82 increased2122.98 quality2123.38 of2123.86 life2123.94 for2124.26 the2124.42 time2124.5 they2124.82 have.2124.98 Humane2125.94 choice2126.42 is2127.22 the2127.38 least2127.54 we2127.78 can2127.94 offer2128.18 in2128.5 an2128.66 enlightened2128.9 society.2129.46 Thank2130.34 you2130.58 for2130.74 including2130.98 my2131.38 testimony2131.62 today2132.26 and2132.82 for2133.06 all2133.3 your2133.46 good2133.62 work.2133.86 Thank2134.7 you.2134.93
2136.86 SPEAKER12136.86 -2136.86 Thank2136.86 you.2137.18 At2139.09 this2139.34 time,2139.58 I'm2141.18 also2141.41 gonna2141.74 invite,2142.14 Michael2143.09 Martinetti.2143.58 Are2144.45 you2144.61 here,2144.78 Michael?2144.93
2147.85 Okay.2147.85 May2149.85 not2150.09 have2150.25 made2150.41 it2150.65 in2150.81 just2151.05 yet.2151.45 Okay.2152.97 I2154.65 have2154.89 in2155.53 person,2155.85 Molly2156.97 DeHaas2157.37 Walsh.2158.01
2161.47 Compassion2161.47 and2161.95 choices.2162.11
2168.82 Welcome.2168.82
2179.76 SPEAKER202179.76 -2179.76 For2179.76 92180.08 years,2180.32 I've2181.44 been2181.68 a2181.92 hospice2182.08 volunteer2182.64 routinely2184.4 visiting2185.04 both2185.76 making2186.88 routine2187.2 visits2187.52 to2188 hospice2188.24 patients2188.8 and2189.68 also2190.16 on2190.47 call2190.71 to2191.11 sit2191.36 with2191.59 actively2191.99 dying2192.47 veterans2192.8 as2193.68 part2193.91 of2194.16 no2194.32 veteran2194.47 dies2194.95 alone.2195.2 I've2196.55 seen2196.88 that2197.2 even2197.43 excellent2197.91 hospice2198.47 care2198.95 can't2200.16 guarantee2200.71 a2201.43 peaceful2201.51 death.2202.07 22203.36 stories.2203.59 Ted2205.15 went2205.39 to2205.63 Vietnam2205.87 at2206.35 172206.59 and2207.63 returned2207.87 home2208.27 to2208.59 become2208.75 a2209.07 teacher2209.15 and2209.63 raise2209.79 a2210.11 family.2210.19 Excuse2211.71 me.2212.11 At2212.59 69,2212.83 he2213.47 was2213.63 diagnosed2213.87 with2214.35 ALS2214.67 and2215.63 he2215.79 was2215.95 admitted2216.19 to2216.67 our2216.83 hospice2217.07 when2217.55 he2217.79 could2217.95 no2218.11 longer2218.35 eat,2218.75 drink2219.23 or2219.63 speak.2219.87 He2221.18 had2221.49 difficulty2221.82 swallowing2222.45 his2222.93 own2223.18 saliva2223.41 and2224.45 he2224.61 would2224.78 cough2225.09 and2225.57 choke2225.89 until2226.3 his2226.61 face2226.86 turned2227.26 purple2227.66 and2228.14 he2228.38 was2228.53 gasping2228.78 for2229.26 breath.2229.49 He2230.61 also2230.86 had2231.26 a2231.41 condition2231.57 that2232.05 caused2232.22 the2232.7 inside2232.86 of2233.32 his2233.56 mouth2233.72 to2233.8 slough2234.2 off2234.52 causing2235.24 excruciating2235.72 pain2236.52 that2236.92 couldn't2237.08 be2237.32 alleviated2237.56 even2238.28 with2238.52 strong2238.76 narcotics.2239.24
2241.96 Often,2241.96 he2242.36 would2242.52 sob2242.84 even2243.64 wailing2244.04 and2245 the2245.24 staff2245.4 couldn't2245.8 tell2246.12 if2246.6 this2246.84 was2247.08 from2247.32 pain2247.56 or2248.39 an2248.64 expression2248.95 of2249.52 total2249.68 despair.2250.32 Ted2251.52 and2251.91 his2252.07 family2252.24 decided2252.8 to2253.2 discontinue2253.43 his2254.16 tube2254.47 feedings2254.72 and2255.59 he2255.84 died2256.07 after2256.39 142256.88 days2257.52 without2258.32 fluid2258.8 or2259.28 nourishment.2259.43
2262.01 Ron2262.01 went2262.25 to2262.53 Vietnam2262.81 at2263.45 202263.61 and2264.17 he2264.49 was2264.57 exposed2264.97 to2265.37 agent2265.61 orange.2265.93 He2267.05 was2267.21 a2267.45 cable2267.53 guy2267.93 who2268.17 liked2268.41 trucks,2268.89 country2269.53 music,2269.93 and2270.57 most2270.89 of2271.13 all2271.21 his2271.53 dog.2271.77 He2273.21 was2273.45 diagnosed2273.69 with2274.25 throat2274.41 cancer2274.73 at2275.29 692275.45 and2276.25 and2276.61 he2276.69 endured2276.78 radiation2277.17 and2278.38 chemotherapy.2278.61 But2280.53 the2280.78 tumor2280.86 recurred2281.34 and2281.82 then2281.89 spread2282.21 to2282.45 his2282.61 lungs2282.78 and2283.17 bones2283.34 causing2283.89 severe2284.3 pain.2284.78 He2286.14 faced2286.45 the2286.78 fear2286.93 that2287.34 the2287.57 tumor2287.73 in2288.14 his2288.38 throat2288.61 would2289.01 eventually2289.26 block2289.89 his2290.21 ability2290.45 to2291.01 to2291.59 breathe2291.83 and2292.87 it2293.11 would2293.27 slowly2293.43 smother2293.99 him.2294.39 Before2295.99 that2296.39 happened,2296.71 he2297.11 started2297.35 having2297.83 uncontrollable2298.47 bleeding2299.35 from2299.91 his2300.15 GI2300.47 tract.2300.79 His2301.83 death2302.07 was2302.39 prolonged2302.71 and2303.51 difficult,2303.75 complicated2304.55 by2305.84 severe2306.07 terminal2306.64 agitation2307.19 related2308.39 to2308.8 his2309.03 PTSD2309.19 and2310.47 uncontrolled2310.8 pain2311.59 despite2312.55 strong2313.36 narcotics.2313.76 Both2315.84 these2316.15 men2316.47 had2316.95 already2317.19 faced2317.59 death2317.91 at2318.23 172318.47 and2319.11 202319.36 years2319.76 of2320.07 age.2320.32 I2321.56 think2321.72 they2321.88 deserved2322.28 a2322.68 choice,2322.84 some2323.88 control2324.2 over2324.84 the2325.08 way2325.24 they2325.48 had2325.64 to2325.88 face2325.96 death2326.28 as2326.68 old2326.92 men2327.16 who2327.96 sacrificed2328.28 their2329 youth2329.24 for2329.72 their2329.96 country.2330.2 Thank2331.16 you.2331.4
2334.28 SPEAKER12334.28 -2334.28 Thank2334.28 you.2334.52 Are2334.92 there2335.08 any2335.24 questions?2335.4 K.2336.66
2339.22 At2339.22 this2339.46 time,2339.7 I2340.26 would2340.42 welcome2340.66 Chris.2341.3 I2341.94 just2342.03 have2342.18 first2342.42 name2342.66 Chris2342.9 who2343.22 is2343.38 joining2343.94 us2344.42 by2344.59 way2344.82 of2345.07 teams.2345.22
2359.69 SPEAKER212359.69 -2359.69 Hi.2359.69 I2360.73 guess,2360.97 is2361.45 it,2361.61 are2362.49 you2362.65 looking2362.81 for2363.05 me,2363.21 Chris2363.45 Carrera,2363.69
2364.33 SPEAKER12364.33 -2364.33 maybe?2364.33 Welcome.2365.43
2367.76 SPEAKER212367.76 -2367.76 Okay.2367.76 Thank2368.39 you.2368.64 My2370.88 name2371.03 is2371.19 Chris2371.43 Carrera,2371.67 from2372.71 Charlton.2372.95 I've2373.51 been2373.59 a2373.84 physician2373.91 assistant2374.39 in2374.8 Worcester2374.95 for2375.43 over2375.51 302375.84 years.2376.16 I2377.03 oppose2377.28 the2377.59 end2377.76 of2377.91 life2378.07 options2378.32 act.2378.88 This2379.84 is2380 the2380.08 fourth2380.32 time2380.64 I've2380.88 presented2381.12 testimony2381.52 to2382.16 this2382.24 committee.2382.48 We've2383.36 heard2383.6 many2383.84 testimonies2384.16 supporting2384.8 medical2385.2 aid2385.68 in2385.92 dying.2386.08 In2386.88 the2387.12 end,2387.2 22388.08 reasons2388.32 are2388.72 given2388.88 for2389.12 legalization,2389.36 suffering2390.8 and2391.36 autonomy.2391.6 They2393.22 say2393.47 we2393.7 need2393.95 MAID2394.18 for2394.51 those2394.66 who2394.99 are2395.07 suffering.2395.3 We2396.51 hear2396.66 extreme2397.14 stories2397.63 about2398.03 physical2398.34 suffering2398.74 at2399.22 the2399.39 very2399.47 end2399.7 of2399.86 life,2400.03 but2400.99 most2401.39 do2401.86 not2402.03 choose2402.27 MAID2402.59 for2402.91 physical2403.14 suffering.2403.55 It's2404.43 not2404.74 a2404.99 requirement.2405.14 Everyone2406.86 experiences2407.42 significant2408.14 suffering.2408.78 If2409.82 any2410.06 kind2410.3 of2410.46 suffering2410.62 qualifies,2411.18 then2412.22 anyone2412.54 is2412.94 a2413.1 potential2413.26 candidate.2413.82 They2415.74 say2415.98 people2416.3 should2416.62 control2416.86 be2417.66 able2417.82 to2417.98 control2418.14 the2418.46 timing2418.62 and2418.94 manner2419.1 of2419.42 their2419.58 deaths.2419.82 If2421.18 autonomy2421.34 is2421.82 the2422.07 basis2422.14 for2422.55 MAID,2422.7 every2423.74 safeguard2424.07 limits2424.7 autonomy.2425.34 Many2426.39 testimonies2426.78 involve2427.51 people2427.91 who2428.39 would2428.55 not2428.63 even2428.86 qualify2429.11 under2429.66 the2429.99 law.2430.14 Elsewhere,2431.43 safeguards2432.14 have2432.86 already2433.26 been2433.74 removed,2433.99 and2435.02 more2435.26 legal2435.34 challenges2435.82 aim2436.46 at2436.7 expanding2436.94 the2437.42 law.2438.22 Waiting2438.46 periods,2438.86 terminal2439.34 illness,2439.9 self2440.38 ingestion,2440.62 these2441.74 will2442.06 all2442.3 be2442.54 gone2442.7 in2443.02 due2443.18 time.2443.5 Hospice2444.86 was2445.42 not2445.58 good2445.82 enough.2445.98 Voluntary2447.3 stopping2448.11 and2448.51 eating2448.74 drinking2449.07 promoted2449.7 by2450.27 compassion2450.51 and2451.07 choices2451.14 was2452.27 not2452.43 good2452.74 enough.2452.99 A2454.11 death2454.34 cocktail2454.66 does2455.3 not2455.55 always2455.78 lead2456.18 to2456.43 a2456.66 peaceful2456.74 death2457.3 and2457.7 significantly2457.95 limits2458.82 who2459.22 qualifies.2459.47 It2460.66 will2460.82 not2461.07 be2461.3 good2461.47 enough.2461.7 The2463.12 arguments2463.36 to2463.84 expand2464.08 the2464.48 law2464.56 are2464.88 the2464.96 same,2465.12 suffering2465.84 and2466.56 autonomy.2466.88 Legalization2468.4 is2469.12 only2469.28 the2469.52 beginning.2469.68 Anyone2470.8 assuring2471.36 us2471.76 the2472 law2472.16 is2472.4 safe2472.56 is2473.04 misleading2473.28 us,2473.84 unfamiliar2474.48 with2475.2 the2475.36 trajectory2475.52 of2476.08 MAID2476.32 everywhere2476.8 else.2477.36 Perhaps2478.72 that's2479.13 agreeable2479.45 to2479.84 the2480.01 sponsor2480.16 of2480.64 these2480.72 bills,2481.05 but2481.84 I2482.09 doubt2482.24 most2482.64 constituents2482.97 and2483.68 poll2483.93 takers2484.16 would2484.72 agree2485.05 knowing2485.84 this.2486.09 Predicting2487.61 death2488.09 in2488.32 62488.49 months2488.8 is2489.13 about2489.29 as2489.61 accurate2489.77 as2490.16 flipping2490.32 a2490.64 coin.2490.8 This2491.77 is2491.93 why2492.01 a2492.25 lot2492.41 of2492.49 people2492.65 remain2493.05 on2493.37 hospice2493.53 beyond2494.09 62494.41 months.2494.65 The2495.61 disability2495.77 community2496.49 vigorously2497.05 opposes2497.61 made2498.09 for2498.41 good2498.65 reasons.2498.89 Studies2499.85 demonstrate2500.41 doctors2500.97 think2501.37 patients2501.61 have2502.01 a2502.17 lower2502.25 quality2502.49 of2502.89 life2502.97 than2503.21 patients2503.45 do2503.93 themselves.2504.09 They2505.41 will2505.57 be2506.13 more2506.29 readily2506.53 offered2507.01 MAID2507.32 than2507.64 treatment.2507.72 Insurance2509.09 denials,2509.64 unmet2510.53 healthcare2511.09 needs2511.64 and2512.13 receiving2512.45 a2512.93 possible2513.01 erroneous2513.49 terminal2514.05 diagnosis2514.53 are2515.49 demoralizing2515.8 and2517.24 drives2517.57 patients2518.05 tragically2518.68 towards2519.32 MAID.2519.72 We2520.59 have2520.75 no2520.99 safeguard2521.31 for2521.87 this.2522.11 If2523.55 doctors2523.87 inappropriately2524.27 offer2525.15 MAID,2525.55 they2526.11 are2526.27 protected.2526.43 Patients2527.79 determined2528.43 not2529.07 to2529.39 qualify2529.63 by2530.11 12530.35 doctor2530.67 can2531.23 shop2531.47 for2531.71 another.2531.95 The2533.16 bill2533.32 is2533.8 more2534.05 about2534.36 protecting2534.92 the2535.4 practice2535.64 than2536.13 being2536.44 making2536.84 it2537.16 safe.2537.72 Assisted2539.32 suicide2539.8 cannot2540.44 be2540.76 made2541.09 safe.2541.64 Please2542.61 draw2543.09 the2543.4 line2543.57 while2543.96 you2544.2 still2544.44 can.2544.84 Thank2545.4 you.2545.64
2549.77 SPEAKER12549.77 -2549.77 Thank2549.77 you.2550.09 I2550.81 just2551.05 this2551.29 is2551.45 a2551.53 question2551.69 I2551.93 asked2552.09 my2552.33 senate2552.49 colleagues2552.81 earlier.2553.21 I2553.53 think2553.61 it's2553.77 important2553.93 for2554.41 people2554.57 to2554.89 just,2555.05 I2555.69 encourage2555.85 you2556.17 to2556.33 read2556.41 the2556.57 bill2556.73 that2557.37 suffering2557.93 is2558.81 not,2559.05 a2559.85 reason2560.01 to2560.57 be2560.89 granted2561.05 permission,2561.61 neither2563.28 is2563.76 just,2564.39 autonomy.2565.11 So2565.51 there's2565.68 a2565.91 lot2565.99 of2566.23 safeguards2566.39 in2566.8 this2566.95 bill,2567.11 and2567.43 I2567.68 just2567.84 wanna2568.07 make2568.32 sure2568.47 that2568.64 this2568.88 is2569.03 a2569.11 very2569.28 sensitive2569.51 issue2569.91 for2570.16 people2570.32 who2570.55 support2570.8 this,2571.11 people2571.84 who2572.16 oppose2572.55 this,2572.88 but2573.36 that2573.59 the2573.84 facts2574.07 of2574.39 what2574.55 the2574.64 bill2574.8 do2575.03 are2575.19 really2575.36 important2575.59 as2576.16 we2576.32 are2576.47 guided2576.71 and2577.35 we2577.51 deliberate2577.75 on2578.31 this2578.47 bill2578.71 today.2578.95 At2580.63 this2580.79 time,2581.03 I2581.43 would2581.59 welcome2581.83 Paul2582.71 Goldberg2583.11 who2583.83 is2584.07 also2584.23 gonna2584.47 be2584.79 joining2584.87 us2585.19 virtually.2585.43
2589.59 SPEAKER222589.59 -2589.59 Yes.2589.59 Good2589.91 morning.2590.15 Can2592.01 you2592.32 see2592.49 me?2592.64 Hear2593.05 me?2593.29
2594.32 SPEAKER12594.32 -2594.32 We2594.32 can2594.49 hear2594.64 you,2594.89 Paul.2595.05 Welcome.2595.45 And2596.16 now2596.41 we2596.57 can2596.72
2596.89 SPEAKER42596.89 -2596.89 see2596.89 you.2597.2
2598.01 SPEAKER222598.01 -2598.01 Thank2598.01 you,2598.24 very2598.89 much2599.13 for2599.45 holding2599.77 this,2600.09 session2601.84 today.2602.32 I'm2602.72 here2602.97 in2603.45 support2603.68 of2604.16 the2604.64 bills.2604.81 In2607.14 February2607.38 2022,2608.31 my2609.86 wife,2610.1 Lee2610.66 Marshall,2610.98 and2611.46 I2611.7 had2611.94 to2612.1 move2612.26 from2612.5 our2612.74 home2612.98 in2613.14 Gloucester,2613.3 Massachusetts2613.86 to2615.86 Albuquerque,2616.1 New2616.82 Mexico2617.06 so2617.62 she2617.78 could2617.94 use2618.18 New2618.9 Mexico's2619.14 Elizabeth2619.7 Whitefield2620.82 End2621.3 of2621.53 Life2621.7 Options2622.34 Act2622.82 to2623.7 peacefully2623.93 end2624.49 her2624.82 suffering2625.14 from2626.18 metastatic2626.41 breast2627.14 cancer2627.38 that2627.86 had2628.01 spread2628.18 to2628.57 her2628.73 brain,2628.97 bones,2630.01 lungs,2630.57 and2631.21 liver.2631.45 This2633.63 move2633.87 was2634.11 the2634.35 most2634.51 painful,2634.75 emotionally2635.87 and2636.35 physically2636.51 traumatic2637.07 experience2637.63 of2638.19 our2638.35 lives.2638.59 And2639.95 to2640.19 this2640.35 day,2640.59 I2640.75 am2640.91 haunted2641.07 by2641.47 memories2641.63 of2642.11 the2642.27 experience.2642.43 I2644.11 remain2644.43 very2645.15 saddened2645.55 and2646.03 very2646.59 angry2646.84 that2647.16 we2647.39 were2647.56 forced2647.72 to2648.04 make2648.11 this2648.36 decision2648.59 because2649.07 the2649.39 Massachusetts2649.56 legislature2650.28 had2650.99 been2651.16 unable2651.32 to2652.28 pass2652.43 the2652.68 Massachusetts2652.91 End2653.72 of2653.88 Life2654.04 Options2654.52 Act.2654.99 I2656.91 remember2657.07 Lee2657.56 being2657.88 uprooted2658.11 in2658.59 the2658.76 last2658.84 month2659.16 of2659.39 her2659.56 life2659.72 in2660.04 a2660.2 wheelchair2660.28 at2660.84 the2660.99 airport,2661.07 unpacking,2662.49 in2663.37 a2663.53 bleak2664.01 rental2664.81 apartment2665.29 in2665.85 Albuquerque,2666.09 away2667.45 from2667.69 everything2667.93 familiar,2668.41 unable2669.53 to2669.93 find2670.17 comfort2670.41 in2670.89 her2671.05 own2671.21 bed,2671.53 eat2672.73 her2672.97 own2673.13 food,2673.45 cuddle2673.85 with2674.17 our2674.41 cat,2674.65 blew2675.37 up2675.77 road2675.93 uprooted2676.41 from2676.89 our2677.13 home,2677.37 and2678.51 cherished2678.74 friends2679.22 because2679.63 the2680.11 legislatures2680.26 had2680.9 failed2681.14 to2681.46 act2681.63 on2682.42 a2682.66 bill2682.74 supported2683.07 by2683.55 the2683.78 majority2683.86 of2684.42 their2684.51 constituents.2684.74 After2687.22 422687.55 years2688.03 of2688.34 marriage2688.51 and2688.82 developing2689.07 a2689.63 loving2689.78 and2690.18 rich2690.34 community2690.97 of2691.21 friends,2691.61 we2691.93 were2692.17 forced2692.33 in2692.65 the2692.89 last2692.97 weeks2693.29 of2693.49 Lee's2693.69 life2694.01 to2694.89 be2695.05 alone2695.21 among2695.69 stranger,2696.09 lost,2697.05 agitated,2697.61 and2698.89 very2699.13 lonely.2699.37 Lee2701.85 herself2702.09 was2702.49 an2702.65 RN2702.81 for2703.21 more2703.37 than2703.53 402703.77 years2704.17 and2705.21 she2705.45 had2705.69 worked2705.93 and2706.89 seen2707.14 many2707.93 people2708.26 who2708.66 suffered2708.82 terribly2709.22 in2709.7 the2709.86 dying2710.02 process2710.34 at2710.82 the2710.97 end2711.06 of2711.22 their2711.38 lives.2711.62 She2712.97 supported2713.3 MAID2713.78 long2714.18 before2714.41 her2714.82 diagnosis,2715.06 and2716.34 she2716.49 thought2716.74 about2716.97 the2717.22 question2717.3 for2717.78 a2718.02 long2718.1 time.2718.41 We2719.45 had2719.69 many2719.77 conversations.2720.33 She2721.05 spoke2721.29 with2721.61 many2721.77 other2722.09 people,2722.33 often2723.29 including2723.69 multiple2724.17 doctors2724.81 to2725.29 decide2725.45 if2725.77 it2725.93 was2726.01 right2726.25 for2726.49 her.2726.65 The2727.77 palliative2727.93 care2728.49 doctor2728.81 who's2729.85 taking2730.25 care2730.65 of2730.97 her,2731.13 initially2732.34 was2732.82 against2733.06 this2733.7 bill.2734.02 Lee2734.66 spoke2734.97 with2735.22 her2735.45 regularly2735.61 throughout2736.18 the2736.57 course2736.66 of2736.89 her2737.06 illness,2737.22 listening2738.57 to2738.97 each2739.14 other's2739.38 point2739.7 of2739.86 view,2740.02 discussing2740.34 the2740.89 reasons2740.97 for2741.38 and2741.61 against.2741.78 And2742.89 in2743.14 her2743.3 last2743.45 conversation2743.86 with2744.49 her2744.74 doctor2744.89 before2745.3 leaving2745.7 through2746.09 Mexico,2746.26 She2747.6 asked2747.84 again2748 whether2748.48 after2749.28 all2749.52 their2749.76 conversations2750.08 she2750.8 would2751.04 prescribe2751.28 MAID2751.84 for2752.08 her2752.24 if2753.04 it2753.2 were2753.28 legal2753.52 here2753.84 in2754 Massachusetts.2754.24 Her2756.24 doctor2756.56 paused2756.96 and2757.92 said,2758.16 yes.2758.4 You2759.28 have2759.52 convinced2759.76 me2760.16 that2760.4 it2760.56 was2760.72 right2760.96 for2761.2 you2761.44 and2762.09 I2762.34 would2762.41 prescribe2762.74 it.2763.22
2765.78 Death2765.78 is2766.02 inevitable2766.18 for2766.74 all2766.89 of2767.06 us.2767.22 When2767.38 the2767.61 inevitably2767.78 came2768.49 for2768.89 Lee,2769.14 she2769.45 wanted2769.7 to2770.02 make2770.09 sure2770.34 she2770.66 didn't2770.82 suffer2771.14 and2771.7 linger2772.02 in2772.34 a2772.49 debilitated,2772.66 helpless,2773.38 joyous2773.93 state.2774.49 And2775.47 May2775.63 became2775.87 the2776.27 only2776.43 option2776.67 that2777.07 was2777.23 consistent2777.39 with2778.03 her2778.19 values.2778.43 During2780.27 her2780.67 life,2781.39 she2781.87 worked2782.11 to2782.43 make2782.51 medical2782.75 aid2783.15 in2783.31 dying2783.39 available2783.71 in2784.19 Massachusetts.2784.43 And2785.15 before2785.31 she2785.71 died,2785.87 she2786.19 asked2786.43 me2786.67 to2786.75 continue2786.91 to2787.31 help2787.47 promote2787.71 passage2788.03 of2788.51 a2788.59 bill2788.67 in2788.91 Massachusetts.2789.07 While2790.32 others2790.57 won't2790.89 have2791.13 to2791.36 suffer2791.45 the2791.84 same2792.01 way,2792.16 which2793.13 is2793.36 why2793.53 I'm2793.77 here.2794.09 And2794.97 thank2795.2 you2795.45 very2795.61 much2795.93 for2796.24 your2797.36 concern2797.77 and2798.16 and2798.49 your2798.57 help2798.8 in2799.05 this2799.2 matter.2799.45
2800.72 SPEAKER12800.72 -2800.72 Thank2800.72 you.2800.97 At2802.69 this2802.85 time,2803.09 I2803.41 will2803.57 go2803.73 back2803.89 to,2804.29 Rabbi2804.93 Lieberman,2805.41 who2805.89 I2806.05 believe2806.13 is2806.53 on2806.77 Teams.2807.09
2809.73 SPEAKER232809.73 -2809.73 Thank2809.73 you2809.97 so2810.21 much.2810.37 I2811.89 am2812.13 really2812.37 grateful2812.61 for2813.01 this2813.17 opportunity2813.41 to2814.13 offer2814.29 testimony2814.61 in2815.17 support2815.41 of2815.81 an2816.05 act2816.21 relative2816.72 to2816.88 the2817.05 end2817.28 of2817.44 life2817.61 options.2817.93 Fifth,2819.13 such2819.53 opportunity2819.84 I've2820.41 had2820.57 to2820.64 do2820.8 so2820.96 over2821.2 the2821.44 past2821.61 132821.93 years.2822.32 My2823.13 name2823.28 is2823.44 Elias2823.76 Lieberman,2824.24 Rabbi2824.8 Emeritus2825.28 of2825.84 Falmouth2826.01 Jewish2826.48 Congregation2826.89 on2827.44 Cape2827.61 Cod,2827.93 a2828.72 position2828.89 I2829.2 held2829.36 for2829.53 342829.76 years2830.24 until2830.57 my2830.96 retirement2831.13 last2831.76 year.2832.01 I2833.07 have2833.31 in2833.47 the2833.63 past2833.79 served2834.19 as2834.51 a2834.75 volunteer2834.91 hospice2835.39 chaplain,2835.87 and2836.59 I2836.75 bring2836.83 to2837.07 this2837.23 moment2837.47 decades2837.95 of2838.35 experience2838.59 as2839.23 a2839.39 congregational2839.63 rabbi,2840.35 serving2841.15 the2841.55 needs2841.71 of2841.95 families2842.11 as2842.67 they2842.83 have2843.07 contended2843.31 with2843.79 end2844.03 of2844.27 life2844.43 issues.2844.67 I've2846.03 been2846.19 witness2846.43 to2846.75 good2846.99 deaths2847.15 and2847.55 bad2847.71 deaths.2847.95 I've2848.89 seen2849.21 members2849.45 of2849.78 my2849.93 community2850.09 pass2850.66 from2850.89 life2851.14 serenely,2851.53 and2852.66 I've2852.89 watched2853.14 them2853.38 endure2853.61 suffering2853.93 that2854.41 none2854.57 of2854.82 us2855.05 would2855.3 wish2855.45 for2855.7 ourselves2855.93 or2856.57 anyone2856.82 we2857.14 love.2857.3 I've2858.41 had2858.66 conversations2858.89 with2859.61 congregants2859.86 in2860.49 which2860.66 they2860.97 spoke2861.3 of2861.61 their2861.78 desire2862.01 for2862.77 the2862.93 option2863.09 of2863.41 a2863.65 gentle2863.73 death2864.13 as2864.53 provided2864.69 for2865.17 in2865.49 this2865.65 legislation.2865.89 In2867.57 Jewish2867.81 tradition,2868.21 a2868.69 frequently2868.85 heard2869.49 toast2869.81 is2870.29 lachaim,2870.69 a2871.89 Hebrew2872.05 expression2872.69 that2873.09 means2873.33 to2873.73 life.2873.89 Judaism2875.16 is2875.64 a2875.8 faith2875.96 tradition2876.28 that2876.61 deems2876.84 precious2877.24 the2877.8 gift2877.96 of2878.13 life2878.28 we're2878.61 granted,2878.84 but2879.64 it2879.8 is2880.05 also2880.2 a2880.61 tradition2880.68 that2881.16 rejects2881.4 the2881.89 notion2882.05 that2882.44 there2882.68 is2882.84 anything2883.09 inherently2883.8 redemptive2884.53 about2885.32 suffering.2885.64 The2887.1 wisdom2887.26 found2887.74 in2887.98 the2888.22 book2888.3 of2888.46 Ecclesiastes2888.7 reminds2889.58 us2889.98 that2890.14 there2890.3 is2890.46 a2890.7 time2890.78 to2891.02 be2891.18 born2891.42 and2891.82 a2892.22 time2892.3 to2892.62 die.2892.78 I2893.9 have2894.14 come2894.3 to2894.46 believe2894.62 that2895.02 there2895.18 is2895.42 sometimes2895.58 a2896.78 time2897.02 for2897.26 an2897.5 individual2897.74 to2898.3 make2898.38 the2898.62 informed2898.78 decision2899.42 to2900.14 bring2900.38 his2900.7 or2900.94 her2901.18 suffering2901.34 to2901.82 an2901.98 end2902.14 with2902.91 compassionate2903.14 support2903.79 and2904.82 with2905.07 the2905.22 protections2905.39 against2905.95 abuse2906.34 incorporated2906.91 into2907.55 this2907.79 legislation.2908.03 As2909.7 a2909.95 person2910.03 of2910.34 faith2910.51 and2910.82 as2911.07 someone2911.22 who2911.63 chose2911.79 a2912.18 profession2912.34 in2912.91 which2913.07 I2913.3 was2913.47 expected2913.7 to2914.18 offer2914.34 guidance2914.66 to2915.39 those2915.63 facing2915.95 the2916.34 ultimate2916.59 in2917.07 existential2917.3 questions,2918.03 I2919.2 believe2919.36 firmly2919.68 that2920.08 terminally2920.32 ill,2920.96 mentally2921.6 competent2922.24 adults2922.64 should2923.6 be2923.76 afforded2924 the2924.48 right2924.64 to2924.88 choose2925.04 to2925.52 bring2925.68 about2925.92 a2926.16 peaceful2926.32 death2926.72 when2927.44 their2927.68 suffering2928 renders2928.48 living2929.2 intolerable.2929.68
2941.45 Compassionate2941.45 alternative2942.18 must2942.82 be2943.14 available2943.22 to2943.78 us.2943.93 I2945.28 do2945.44 not2945.52 presume2945.92 to2946.4 speak2946.56 for2946.88 all2947.04 Jews2947.36 or2947.76 for2948 Judaism,2948.24 although2949.2 polls2949.52 consistently2950.08 show2950.88 strong2951.2 support2951.68 among2952.16 Jews2952.48 for2952.96 medical2953.12 aid2953.52 in2953.76 dying.2953.84 I2955.04 do2955.28 feel2955.6 strongly2955.84 that2956.4 anyone's2956.72 deeply2957.36 held2957.76 religious2958.08 convictions2958.64 should2959.66 not2959.82 preclude2960.3 the2960.86 exercise2961.11 by2961.82 others2962.07 of2963.03 the2963.18 most2963.27 fundamental2963.59 of2964.3 personal2964.39 decisions.2964.79 I2966.22 do2966.47 presume2966.7 to2967.18 offer2967.34 my2967.66 experience2967.99 and2968.55 my2968.7 convictions2968.86 gained2969.59 over2969.99 the2970.22 course2970.39 of2970.7 my2970.79 career,2970.95 ministering2971.82 to2972.39 the2972.47 dying2972.63 and2973.03 to2973.27 their2973.43 loved2973.59 ones.2973.91 I2975.06 urge2975.22 you2975.54 to2975.7 grant2975.86 the2976.26 precious2976.42 gift2976.9 of2977.14 autonomy2977.38 to2977.94 those2978.1 whose2978.34 suffering2978.58 will2979.14 be2979.3 unendurable2979.62 and2980.98 for2981.22 whom2981.38 the2981.7 option2981.86 to2982.26 end2982.42 their2982.66 suffering2982.9 at2983.38 the2983.46 end2983.7 of2983.86 their2984.02 life2984.26 would2984.98 be2985.14 the2985.3 greatest2985.46 of2986.02 blessings.2986.18 Thank2987.7 you.2987.94
2990.18 SPEAKER12990.18 -2990.18 Thank2990.18 you.2990.49 At2992.41 this2992.66 time,2992.82 I2993.3 will2993.45 welcome2993.7 Barbara2994.18 Webster2994.58 from2995.06 Compassionate2995.3 Choices2995.86 Compassionate2997.06 and2997.61 Choices.2997.78
3002.74 SPEAKER243002.74 -3002.74 Welcome.3002.74
3012.82 SPEAKER253012.82 -3012.82 Senator3012.82 Driscoll,3013.46 representative3014.02 Decker,3014.66 and3014.98 the3015.22 others3015.7 on3015.94 the3016.1 committee,3016.18 I3016.58 thank3016.66 you3016.67 for3016.68 this3016.69 opportunity3016.71 to3016.72 speak3016.73 and3016.74 tell3016.75 my3016.76 story3016.77 of3016.79 why3016.8 I3016.81 support3016.82 this3017.38
3021.76 bill.3021.76 I'm3022.64 from3022.8 Upton3023.03 and,3023.91 I3025.76 support3025.91 it3026.32 in3026.47 honor3026.55 of3026.95 my3027.03 brother3027.2 Chuck3027.59 Webster3027.91 who3028.64 died3028.88 early3029.28 last3029.68 year.3029.91 My3030.95 own3031.2 perspective3031.43 on3032.07 death3032.23 solidified3033.02 as3033.82 he3033.98 agonized3034.3 over3035.02 his3035.26 impending3035.5 death3036.06 from3036.7 a3036.94 rare3037.1 and3037.34 aggressive3037.5 bladder3038.22 cancer3038.62 without3039.74 the3040.14 option3040.3 for3040.7 medical3040.86 aid3041.42 in3041.66 dying.3041.82 He3043.02 and3043.18 I3043.42 talked3043.58 many3043.98 times3044.3 about3044.7 his3044.94 wish3045.1 to3045.42 have3045.5 the3045.74 option3045.9 for3046.3 MAID3046.46 after3047.18 his3047.78 experience3048.03 caring3048.51 for3048.91 his3049.14 partner3049.47 who3050.11 died3050.34 53050.66 years3050.99 ago3051.22 of3051.78 a3051.94 also3052.26 a3052.59 very3052.74 rare3052.99 and3053.22 aggressive3053.39 lung3054.03 cancer.3054.26 She3054.74 only3054.99 lived3055.22 23055.55 and3055.7 a3055.78 half3055.86 months3056.11 after3056.43 her3056.74 diagnosis.3056.91 Chuck3058.51 gave3058.91 the3059.55 best3059.78 care3060.26 he3060.74 could3060.91 give3061.14 Conkey,3061.64 who3062.76 is3062.92 a3063.16 force3063.24 of3063.56 nature3063.72 as3064.6 he3064.84 was,3065.08 tried3066.52 to3066.76 give3066.84 her3067.32 the3067.64 best3067.8 care3068.44 he3068.76 could3069 the3069.24 last3069.4 23069.64 and3069.8 a3069.88 half3069.96 months3070.12 of3070.44 her3070.52 life,3070.68 taking3071.24 her3071.56 to3071.72 beaches3071.88 on3072.28 the3072.36 East3072.52 And3072.76 West3072.92 Coast3073.24 Of3073.48 Florida3073.64 so3074.12 she3074.28 could3074.44 see3074.68 sunrises3075 and3075.64 sunsets3075.88 13076.44 more3076.68 time.3076.93 Despite3078.53 initially3079.01 receiving3079.57 hospice3080.13 care3080.53 at3080.76 home3081.01 and3081.41 his3081.57 home,3081.89 her3082.68 pain3082.93 became3083.32 so3083.72 unbearable3084.05 that3084.93 she3085.16 had3085.32 to3085.48 be3085.64 admitted3085.8 to3086.2 an3086.36 inpatient3086.61 hospice3087.32 facility3087.89 where3088.76 she3089.01 died3089.16 a3089.41 few3089.57 days3089.72 later3089.97 in3090.28 Chuck's3090.45 arms.3090.84 In3092.3 Chuck's3092.54 last3092.94 week3093.18 of3093.42 life3093.66 a3094.3 year3094.46 ago,3094.78 he,3095.82 as3097.1 I3097.34 said,3097.5 had3097.82 this,3098.06 aggressive3099.18 cancer.3099.74 The3100.7 hospice3100.94 caregivers3101.42 did3102.14 the3102.38 best3102.54 they3102.94 could3103.1 to3103.98 make3104.14 him3104.3 comfortable,3104.66 but3105.86 during3106.51 his3106.9 grow3107.14 or3107.55 managing3107.7 his3108.11 growing3108.34 pain3108.74 and3109.07 anxiety3109.22 was3109.78 a3110.03 challenge.3110.18 Chuck's3111.22 former3111.7 wife,3112.11 who3112.59 had3112.82 him3113.07 in3113.38 her3113.63 home3113.78 for3114.42 the3114.59 end3114.66 of3114.9 his3114.98 life,3115.14 his3115.86 33116.11 daughters3116.34 and3116.74 their3116.9 partners,3117.14 my3118.11 23118.34 other3118.59 brothers,3118.99 and3119.39 I3119.71 were3119.87 with3120.11 him3120.35 that3120.51 last3120.83 week.3121.15 We3122.19 all3122.43 saw3122.67 how3122.99 the3123.23 ever3123.39 increasing3123.71 doses3124.27 of3124.67 morphine3124.91 and3125.79 antianxiety3126.11 medications3127.07 could3127.87 not3128.11 keep3128.27 up3128.51 with3128.75 his3128.99 breakthrough3129.15 pain.3129.71 It3131.23 was3131.39 brutal3131.63 for3132.27 all3132.51 of3132.67 us3132.83 to3133.07 watch.3133.23 After3134.95 watching3135.2 his3135.68 unbearable3135.91 suffering,3136.47 we3136.95 all3137.2 agreed,3137.36 including3138.16 his3138.64 former3138.88 wife3139.11 who's3139.43 Catholic,3139.76 that3140.95 no3141.2 13141.36 should3141.59 have3141.91 to3142.16 go3142.24 through3142.39 that3142.64 agony3142.95 and3143.91 that3144.08 Chuck3144.32 should3144.72 have3144.88 had3145.04 the3145.28 option3145.43 for3145.91 medical3146.16 aid3146.56 in3146.72 dying.3146.88 We3148.07 believe3148.23 that3148.59 had3148.95 he3149.19 had3149.43 this3149.67 option,3149.91 his3150.63 last3150.87 couple3151.11 of3151.35 months3151.51 of3151.75 life3151.91 would3152.15 have3152.31 been3152.47 so3152.71 much3152.95 richer3153.19 and3153.59 so3153.83 much3153.99 happier,3154.23 but3154.71 he3154.95 was3155.11 so3155.35 scared3156.31 about3157.03 the3157.35 pain3157.59 and3157.83 suffering3157.99 that3158.55 he3158.63 anticipated3158.87 that3159.99 he3160.15 could3160.51 not3160.66 enjoy3160.82 the3161.22 visits3161.47 that3161.86 he3162.03 had,3162.27 up3163.63 to3163.86 the,3164.11 week3164.74 before3165.07 he3165.47 died.3165.7 And,3166.99 actually,3167.63 I3168.03 have3168.11 a3168.27 picture3168.34 of3168.74 him3168.91 33169.79 days3170.03 before3170.34 he3170.82 died,3170.99 and3172.18 it3172.59 was3172.82 just3173.07 so3173.55 sad3173.79 to3174.11 have3174.27 to3174.51 see3174.66 this3174.82 knowing3176.1 what3176.34 he3176.82 really3176.98 wanted.3177.38 So3179.22 to3179.46 conclude,3179.62 I3180.18 urge3180.42 your3180.66 committee3180.9 and3181.46 other3181.7 Massachusetts3181.94 legislators3182.9 to3183.94 seize3184.18 on3184.5 this3184.74 historic3184.98 opportunity3185.54 to3186.9 pass3187.06 this3187.3 legislation3187.54 to3188.5 demonstrate3188.66 your3189.3 compassion3189.62 and3190.74 humanity3190.9 to3191.72 your3191.8 constituents3192.05 who3193.32 might3193.48 want3193.89 this3194.2 option3194.44 for3194.84 MAID.3195.09 103195.89 other3196.05 states3196.36 in3196.68 Washington,3196.84 DC3197.41 have3197.89 all3198.13 demonstrated3198.44 the3199.01 safety,3199.16 autonomy,3199.57 and3200.13 peace3200.28 this3200.61 option3200.84 provides3201.16 to3201.64 terminally3201.8 ill3202.28 adults.3202.53 I3203.64 want3203.8 people3204.05 in3204.28 Massachusetts3204.44 to3205.32 be3205.41 able3205.57 to3205.72 avoid3205.74 protracted3205.75 suffering3205.76 in3205.77 their3205.78 last3205.79 days3205.8 and3205.81 to3205.82 gently3205.83 die3205.84 on3205.85 their3205.86 own3205.87 own3205.89 term.3206.14
3216.6 SPEAKER13216.6 -3216.6 At3216.6 this3216.76 time,3217.08 I'm3217.56 going3217.72 to3218.04 welcome3218.2 Sam3218.84 Whiting3219.56 Whiting,3220.2 who3222.09 is,3222.16 joining3222.97 us3223.36 by3223.53 way3223.77 of3223.93 teams,3224.09 general3224.41 counsel3224.81 of3225.2 Massachusetts3225.36 Family3226.01 Institute.3226.49 Sam,3227.61 welcome.3228.01
3229.45 SPEAKER263229.45 -3229.45 Morning.3229.45 Can3229.93 you3230.09 see3230.24 and3230.41 hear3230.57 me?3230.72
3231.13 SPEAKER13231.13 -3231.13 We3231.13 can3231.29 hear3231.45 you,3231.68 Sam.3231.93 And3232.24 now3232.41 we3232.64 can3232.72 see3232.97 you.3233.13
3234.33 SPEAKER263234.33 -3234.33 Thank3234.33 you3234.57 very3234.65 much.3234.89 Thanks3235.21 for3235.53 the3235.61 opportunity3235.77 to3236.17 testify3236.33 today.3236.81 As3237.45 general3237.69 counsel3238.01 for3238.33 Mass3238.57 Family3238.81 Institute,3239.13 I'm3239.61 here3239.77 to3239.93 speak3240.01 in3240.25 opposition3240.57 to3241.29 h3241.53 253241.77 03242.33 53242.57 and3242.89 s3243.13 143243.37 86,3243.77 which3244.65 would3244.89 legalize3245.05 physician3245.69 assisted3246.09 suicide3246.49 in3246.97 Massachusetts.3247.21 I3248.72 first3248.89 want3249.05 to3249.28 address3249.44 13249.68 of3249.84 the3249.93 most3250.01 misleading3250.24 claims3250.8 about3251.28 these3251.61 bills,3251.93 which3252.41 is3252.57 that3252.72 we3252.8 have3252.96 clear3253.2 evidence3253.53 that3254.01 people3254.16 in3254.41 Massachusetts3254.57 support3255.44 legalizing3255.84 physician3256.57 assisted3256.96 suicide3257.44 by3257.93 a3258.09 white3258.24 margin.3258.41 Groups3259.53 with3259.76 truly3260.01 Orwellian3260.41 names3260.89 like3261.44 death3261.6 with3261.84 dignity3262 and3262.56 compassion3262.88 and3263.36 choices3263.52 like3264.24 to3264.4 point3264.56 to3264.8 a3264.96 203265.12 233265.44 poll3265.92 conducted3266.24 by3266.64 Beacon3266.88 Research3267.28 that3267.76 supposedly3268.08 showed3268.64 that3269.28 almost3269.52 80%3269.92 of3270.4 Massachusetts3270.56 residents3271.2 are3271.6 in3271.76 favor3271.92 of3272.4 so3272.56 called3272.8 medical3273.2 aid3273.68 and3274 dying.3274.16 On3275.05 its3275.13 face,3275.36 that3275.61 sounds3275.84 like3276.09 pretty3276.24 overwhelming3276.57 support.3277.13 As3277.61 the3277.77 old3277.93 adage3278.16 goes,3278.49 you3278.72 can3278.81 barely3278.97 get3279.29 80%3279.45 of3280.01 people3280.09 to3280.41 agree3280.57 that3280.89 the3280.97 sky3281.13 is3281.36 blue.3281.53 But3282.16 if3282.33 you3282.49 dig3282.64 a3282.81 little3282.89 deeper,3283.13 a3283.45 problem3283.53 becomes3283.84 apparent3284.24 with3284.64 this3284.81 poll,3285.05 and3285.29 it's3285.53 a3285.68 big3285.77 problem.3286.01 Here's3286.89 what3287.13 the3287.36 poll3287.45 actually3287.77 asked3288.33 people.3288.72 Would3289.63 you3289.87 support3289.95 a3290.35 bill3290.51 that3290.83 would3290.99 provide,3291.23 and3291.71 I3291.95 quote,3292.03 mentally3292.43 sound3292.83 terminally3293.23 ill3293.79 adults3294.03 the3294.67 option3294.91 to3295.23 get3295.39 a3295.55 prescription3295.71 for3296.27 medication3296.51 they3297.55 could3297.79 decide3298.35 to3298.67 take3298.83 to3299.31 die3299.55 peacefully?3299.79 Of3300.99 course,3301.07 who3301.31 wouldn't3301.55 want3301.87 terminally3302.11 ill3302.67 patients3302.83 to3303.23 be3303.31 able3303.47 to3303.63 take3303.88 medication3304.11 that3304.51 would3304.76 help3304.84 them3305.07 die3305.23 peacefully?3305.47 Judging3306.43 by3306.84 that3306.99 description,3307.23 13307.8 would3308.03 think3308.11 these3308.36 bills3308.59 are3308.91 about3309.07 giving3309.32 morphine3309.55 or3310.03 anesthesia3310.28 or3310.84 palliative3311.07 care3311.55 to3311.8 dying3311.95 patients.3312.28 But3313.07 had3313.16 the3313.39 poll3313.47 called3313.8 medical3314.03 aid3314.43 in3314.67 dying3314.84 what3315.07 it3315.32 really3315.39 is,3315.71 physician3316.11 assisted3316.51 suicide,3316.99 I3317.95 think3318.03 it's3318.19 safe3318.27 to3318.51 assume3318.67 the3318.99 results3319.15 would3319.47 have3319.71 been3319.87 very3320.03 different.3320.27 For3321.07 good3321.31 reason,3321.47 most3321.79 people3321.95 don't3322.35 support3322.59 the3322.91 idea3323.07 of3323.55 doctors3323.71 helping3324.19 patients3324.51 kill3324.91 themselves.3325.15 This3326.19 type3326.43 of3326.59 obfuscation3326.91 and3327.71 misdirection3327.95 is3328.83 a3328.99 key3329.15 part3329.39 of3329.71 the3329.79 assisted3329.95 suicide3330.35 lobby's3330.75 playbook.3331.15 It's3332.05 simple.3332.36 Whitewash3332.77 doctor3333.33 prescribed3333.72 death3334.2 to3334.53 make3334.61 it3334.84 sound3335.01 compassionate3335.33 and3335.89 empowering.3335.97 Pretend3336.77 like3337.09 it's3337.24 all3337.41 about3337.57 alleviating3337.89 pain3338.36 when3338.68 we3338.84 know3338.93 that's3339.16 not3339.41 true.3339.57 And3339.89 most3340.13 people3340.36 choose3340.68 assisted3341.09 suicide3341.49 because3341.97 they3342.29 feel3342.53 like3342.68 a3342.84 burden3343.01 on3343.41 friends3343.64 and3343.89 family.3344.05 Gaslight3344.95 people3345.27 with3345.59 disabilities3345.83 by3346.39 claiming3346.55 these3346.87 bills3347.11 won't3347.35 devalue3347.59 their3348.07 lives3348.31 and3348.71 never3348.95 admit3349.19 that3349.51 we're3349.67 really3349.91 talking3350.15 about3350.47 suicide.3350.71 Following3351.83 the3352.23 same3352.39 pattern3352.63 of3352.95 obfuscation,3353.19 the3353.91 newest3354.07 version3354.39 of3354.71 the3354.87 bills3355.03 would3355.35 make3355.51 state3355.75 collected3356.07 data3356.47 about3356.87 assisted3357.11 suicide3357.59 immune3358.15 from3358.55 the3358.71 public3358.87 records3359.11 law.3359.59 This3360.28 means3360.43 that3360.68 if3360.91 the3360.99 bills3361.16 passed,3361.39 we3361.72 may3361.95 never3362.11 truly3362.36 know3362.68 the3362.84 impacts3362.99 they've3363.32 had3363.56 on3363.72 Massachusetts3363.88 citizens.3364.43 13365.47 has3365.72 to3365.95 ask,3366.04 what3366.43 are3366.59 the3366.76 proponents3366.84 of3367.39 these3367.47 bills3367.64 trying3368.04 to3368.36 hide?3368.43 When3369.24 it3369.39 causes3369.47 righteous,3369.88 there's3370.28 no3370.59 need3370.84 to3371.08 use3371.24 nice3371.56 sounding3371.8 euphemisms3372.2 or3372.91 deceptive3373.08 talking3373.64 points3374.04 to3374.28 promote3374.43 it.3374.76 Proponents3375.46 of3375.78 these3376.02 bills3376.18 know3376.58 how3376.74 unseemly3376.98 it3377.38 is3377.54 to3377.78 promote3377.86 suicide,3378.26 so3379.06 they3379.22 pretend3379.38 that's3379.7 not3379.86 what3380.1 they're3380.18 doing.3380.42 But3380.9 I3381.02 hope3381.14 you3381.38 can3381.46 see3381.62 through3381.78 this3381.94 ploy,3382.18 and3382.5 I3382.74 hope3382.82 that3382.98 you'll3383.14 act3383.3 to3383.54 defend3383.7 the3384.02 sanctity3384.1 of3384.74 every3384.9 human3385.14 life3385.46 by3385.94 rejecting3386.1 these3386.58 dangerous3386.82 bills.3387.3 Thank3387.7 you.3387.94
3389.94 SPEAKER13389.94 -3389.94 Thank3389.94 you.3390.18 At3391.43 this3391.67 time,3391.76 I3392.8 will3393.11 welcome3393.43 Steve3393.84 Shaheen3394.32 Sheehan,3395.11 Compassion3395.84 and3396.39 Choices.3396.55
3402.64 SPEAKER43402.64 -3402.64 Thank3402.64 you.3404.8
3405.03 SPEAKER143405.03 -3405.03 Very3405.03 emotional3405.36 testimonies3406.83 for3407.55
3410.51 sure.3410.51 Again,3411.71 thank3412.11 you3412.35 for3412.91 allowing3413.15 me3413.47 and3413.71 my3413.79 colleagues3413.95 to3414.35 come3414.43 here3414.67 today.3414.83 Many3416.75 of3416.99 us3417.15 have3417.31 heard3417.55 sad3417.79 stories3418.03 about3418.43 difficult3418.75 end3419.23 of3419.39 life3419.47 journeys3419.71 or3420.27 maybe3420.51 have3420.75 had3420.99 a3421.15 friend3421.23 or3421.55 a3421.63 loved3421.71 13422.03 who3422.19 has3422.47 experienced3422.63 a3422.95 painful3423.11 death3423.66 as3424.39 I3424.55 did3424.7 during3425.03 my3425.34 wife's3425.51 difficult3426.07 battle3427.18 and3427.51 death3427.66 from3427.99 cancer.3428.22 My3429.34 wife3429.51 was3429.82 in3430.07 pain3430.22 and3431.26 she3431.59 begged3432.3 me3432.63 to3433.03 end3433.11 her3433.26 life.3433.51 She3433.91 begged3434.07 me3434.39 to3434.55 end3434.7 her3434.95 life.3435.18 In3436.52 her3436.6 last3436.84 days,3437.08 she3437.4 said3437.64 to3437.8 me3437.96 several3438.12 times,3438.44 Steven,3438.84 please.3439.24 I3439.96 don't3440.12 wanna3440.44 wake3440.68 up3440.84 in3441 the3441.16 morning.3441.24 Please.3442.28 But3443.4 I3443.64 couldn't3443.72 honor3444.04 her3444.36 wish3444.52 because3444.84 medical3445.16 aid3445.64 dying3445.8 is3446.44 not3446.68 allowed3446.92 here3447.72 at3447.96 Massachusetts.3448.2 I've3450.28 heard3450.52 that3450.76 it's3452.49 not3452.66 just3452.89 about3453.22 suffering.3453.61 I've3454.82 heard3455.05 the3455.3 minimalization3455.45 of3456.34 suffering3456.49 at3456.89 the3457.05 end3457.22 of3457.3 life3457.54 that3458.02 it's3458.26 expected,3458.49 told3460.18 to3460.41 me3460.49 by3460.74 a3460.89 physician3460.97 in3461.45 fact.3461.61 But3463.14 I3463.38 would3463.45 ask3463.7 anyone3464.02 in3464.41 this3464.57 room3464.74 here3465.05 today,3465.3 if3466.63 you3466.79 haven't3466.95 experienced3467.27 what3467.83 too3467.99 many3468.15 of3468.47 us3468.71 have,3468.87 do3470.07 you3470.23 have3470.39 the3470.63 courage3470.79 to3471.35 imagine3471.59 the3473.11 person3473.27 you3473.75 love3473.91 most3474.23 in3474.55 the3474.63 world3474.79 dying3475.75 a3476.07 painful3476.31 death3476.79 and3477.75 begging3478.07 you3478.47 to3478.71 help3478.87 them,3479.11 but3479.72 you3479.88 can't3480.11 because3480.28 the3480.68 resource3480.91 you3481.24 need3481.39 isn't3482.36 allowed.3482.68 But3484.68 today3484.84 is3485.16 no3485.32 longer3485.47 about3485.88 my3486.2 wife.3486.36 Today3487.08 is3487.39 about3487.56 any3487.8 of3487.95 our3488.11 state's3488.36 terminally3488.68 ill3489.16 citizens3489.32 who3489.95 themselves3490.2 may3490.84 be3490.99 facing3491.16 a3491.56 painful3491.64 death.3492.11 Today3493.21 is3493.77 about3494.17 giving3494.33 voice3494.65 to3494.97 those3495.13 who3495.45 wanna3495.61 decide3495.93 their3496.57 own3496.89 end3497.13 of3497.29 life3497.45 path3497.85 and3498.33 die3498.65 in3498.89 peace3499.13 and3499.93 with3500.17 dignity.3500.33 Are3502.09 we3502.33 really3502.57 doing3502.81 all3503.13 we3503.29 can3503.37 for3503.61 our3503.85 terminally3503.93 ill3504.41 citizens,3504.57 allowing3505.29 them3505.69 to3505.93 suffer3506.09 and3507.16 die3507.32 in3507.64 pain3507.81 and3508.13 there's3508.29 a3508.53 resource3508.61 that3509.49 can3509.64 end3509.89 that3510.05 suffering?3510.29 This3511.97 is3512.2 a3512.29 difficult3512.45 but3513.81 important3514.05 issue.3514.68 Of3516.29 course,3516.36 we3517.09 have3517.32 a3517.41 right3517.49 to3517.64 our3517.81 own3517.97 convictions.3518.13 Whether3519.16 it's3519.49 religious3519.64 leaders3520.13 bound3520.53 by3520.77 their3520.93 faith,3521.16 physicians3521.81 faith,3523.06 physicians3523.14 bound3523.22 by3523.3 their3523.38 Hippocratic3523.46 oath,3523.54 our3524.34 disability3524.58 community3525.22 safeguarding3525.86 their3526.82 rights,3527.14 or3527.7 politicians3527.94 trying3528.66 to3528.98 abide3529.06 by3529.38 their3529.54 constituents3529.7 wishes.3530.26 But3531.78 the3531.94 end3532.1 of3532.34 life3532.42 options3532.66 legislation3532.98 doesn't3533.62 require3533.94 that3534.34 we3534.5 all3534.74 agree.3534.9 Doesn't3536.96 mean3537.2 because3537.61 13537.93 would3538.16 refuse3538.48 to3538.8 access3538.96 a3539.36 resource3539.53 like3540.01 medical3540.24 aid3541.05 in3541.28 dying3541.44 that3542.16 it3542.41 should3542.57 be3542.8 denied3542.89 to3543.28 those3543.36 who3543.84 would3544.01 choose3544.24 to3544.57 access3544.72 it.3545.13 It's3545.76 a3546.09 choice3546.24 and3547.44 every3547.84 terminally3548.09 ill3548.57 citizen3548.72 should3549.53 have3549.76 the3549.93 right3550.01 to3550.24 make3550.48 that3550.72 choice.3550.89 The3552.53 majority3552.69 of3552.93 Massachusetts3553.25 citizens3553.89 who3554.29 agree3554.45 with3555.09 having3555.33 the3555.65 right3555.73 to3555.97 decide3556.13 how3556.45 they3556.61 die3556.85 and3557.41 they3557.57 want3557.73 their3557.97 voices3558.13 heard.3558.61 This3559.73 is3559.97 no3560.05 longer3560.29 about3560.61 advocacy3560.93 for3561.73 or3562.37 opposition3562.53 to3563.25 the3563.73 end3563.89 of3564.05 life3564.13 options3564.37 legislation.3564.85 The3566.05 arguments3566.21 for3566.61 and3566.86 against3567.01 have3567.34 been3567.49 made3567.73 and3568.3 they've3568.53 been3568.78 heard3569.01 and3569.66 they've3569.89 been3570.14 considered3570.38 here3571.01 in3571.26 Massachusetts3571.41 for3572.14 over3572.3 123572.53 years.3572.86 Now3573.97 is3574.21 the3574.38 time3574.53 to3574.78 act.3574.93 As3576.45 advocates,3576.7 our3577.57 efforts3577.73 to3578.14 pass3578.3 this3578.53 legislation3578.7 won't3579.34 stop.3579.57 I3580.44 believe3580.6 the3580.92 will3581.08 of3581.16 the3581.32 people3581.4 of3581.72 Massachusetts3581.88 to3582.6 decide3582.68 their3583 own3583.16 end3583.4 of3583.48 life3583.64 journey3583.88 won't3584.6 be3584.84 deterred,3585 or3586.12 their3586.36 voices3586.52 silenced,3587.08 or3587.8 their3588.04 wishes3588.2 go3588.68 unheeded.3588.84 We3590.12 have3590.28 the3590.44 right3590.6 in3590.76 the3590.92 state3591.08 to3591.32 decide3591.48 how3591.88 we3592.04 live.3592.28 We3592.52 should3592.68 have3592.92 the3593.08 right3593.16 to3593.4 decide3593.56 how3593.88 we3594.12 die.3594.28 I3595.32 believe3595.48 from3595.88 our3596.05 presence3596.2 here3596.53 today,3596.68 we3597.09 know3597.24 it's3597.48 time3597.72 for3597.88 this3598.13 legislation3598.28 to3598.92 pass3599.01 here3599.24 in3599.4 Massachusetts.3599.57 And3600.53 I3600.76 humbly3600.92 ask3601.32 you,3601.57 our3601.88 legislative3602.2 leaders,3602.76 to3603.48 move3603.72 this3603.88 bill3604.2 forward3604.44 and3605.01 give3605.24 all3605.48 terminally3605.64 ill3606.13 citizens3606.2 Massachusetts3606.84 the3608.2 choice3608.36 to3608.92 alleviate3609.16 on3609.57 undue3609.92 suffering3610.16 and3610.72 die3610.88 on3611.12 their3611.28 own3611.44 terms.3611.68 Thank3613.2 you.3613.52
3614.08 SPEAKER133614.08 -3614.08 Thank3614.08 you.3614.32
3617.92 SPEAKER13617.92 -3617.92 At3617.92 this3618.16 time,3618.4 we3618.64 have3618.96 on3619.36 teams,3619.68 Michael3620.4 King3620.88 from3621.2 the3621.36 Massachusetts3621.6 Family3622.56 Institute.3623.36
3636.68 Michael3636.68 King?3637.24 K.3639.7 We3639.94 don't3640.1 see3640.34 Michael3640.58 on3641.06 Teams,3641.38 so3642.34 we're3642.58 going3642.82 to3643.14 pivot3643.3 to3643.86 Gary3644.26 Drimmer,3644.66 who3645.22 is3645.46 on3645.7 Teams.3645.94
3652.91 Okay.3652.91 I'm3653.16 being3653.23 told3653.47 Gary3653.8 may3654.03 not3654.2 be3654.36 with3654.51 us.3654.68 Thomas3656.36 O'Connor.3656.91 Are3658.84 you3659.07 on3659.23 Teams?3659.39 Thomas3660.84 Connors.3661.39 Sorry.3662.03
3663.6 SPEAKER273663.6 -3663.6 Hello.3663.6 Hi.3664.48 Can3664.72 you3664.88 hear3664.96 me?3665.12 This3665.28 is3665.44 Tom3665.6 Connors.3665.84
3666.56 SPEAKER13666.56 -3666.56 Welcome.3666.56
3668.16 SPEAKER273668.16 -3668.16 Hi.3668.16 Thank3668.48 you3668.72 for,3668.88 hearing3670.08 me.3670.4 I3671.36 wanted3671.52 to3671.84 express3671.92 my3672.32 concerns3672.48 against3672.96 this3673.36 legislation3673.6 that3674.56 was3674.72 voted3675.04 down3675.44 by3676.3 Massachusetts3676.55 voters3677.26 when3677.66 last3677.91 put3678.22 to3678.46 a3678.63 referendum3678.7 and3679.91 which3680.07 health3680.3 insurance,3680.63 health3681.74 insurance3681.98 companies3682.39 would3682.86 excitedly3683.11 welcome3683.74 to3684.3 reduce3684.55 by3685.03 suicide3685.26 their3685.74 payout3686.14 expenses.3686.55
3692.2 SPEAKER283692.2 -3692.2 Sorry.3692.2
3695.96 SPEAKER273695.96 -3695.96 They3695.96 would3696.2 I3696.52 can3696.6 see3696.76 in3696.92 our3697.08 future,3697.24 they3697.64 would,3697.8 run3698.28 advertising3698.84 campaigns.3699.56 Boy,3700.28 life3700.68 sucks.3701.08 Have3701.56 you3701.8 thought3701.96 about3702.2 suicide3702.52 today3703.08 if3703.72 this3703.96 bill3704.12 is3704.36 passed?3704.6 There's3705.43 a3705.66 fatal3705.74 flaw3706.22 in3706.39 this3706.55 legislation.3706.86 Doctors3707.59 are3707.98 not3708.14 an3708.39 effective3708.55 fake3709.03 safeguard.3709.43 I3710.47 looked3710.63 after3710.95 my3711.34 mother,3711.51 a3711.82 holocaust3711.98 survivor,3712.63 the3713.03 last3713.18 years3713.43 of3713.74 her3713.82 life.3713.98 While3716.3 I3716.63 experienced3716.86 many,3717.43 good3718.49 and3718.81 wonderful3718.89 doctors3719.45 in3719.93 the3720.17 last3720.25 years3720.49 of3720.81 her3720.89 life,3721.05 many3721.45 were,3721.85 distracted,3723.29 cold,3724.09 limited3724.57 in3724.89 their3725.05 time,3725.21 limited3725.53 in3725.85 their3725.93 ability3726.09 to3726.49 fully3726.65 understand3726.97 what3727.37 she3727.61 was3727.69 going3727.85 through.3728.17 But3728.81 all3728.97 these3729.21 limitations,3729.45 how3730.09 could3730.25 a3730.41 doctor3730.57 who3730.89 grew3731.05 up3731.21 in3731.37 suburban3731.53 America3731.57 understand3731.6 my3731.64 mother3731.68 whose3731.72 neighbors3731.75 in3731.79 a3731.83
3731.87 SPEAKER43731.87 -3731.87 small3731.87 village3731.9 in3731.94 Ukraine3731.98
3732.02 SPEAKER273732.02 -3732.02 during3732.02 World3732.05 War3732.09 2?3732.49 Ukraine3732.74
3735.93 during3735.93 World3736.34 War3736.74 23736.89 killed3736.97 her3737.06 entire3737.54 family?3737.86 They3738.82 couldn't.3738.89 After3740.26 my3740.66 mother3740.74 suffered3740.97 a3741.22 massive3741.45 stroke,3742.26 the3742.34 doctors3742.41 failed3742.82 to3742.97 accurately3743.14 predict3743.86 how3744.34 long3744.58 she3744.82 had3744.97 left3745.14 to3745.38 live.3745.45 The3746.49 nurses3746.65 the3747.13 nurses,3747.29 however,3748.09 told3748.57 me3748.81 not3748.97 to3749.29 listen3749.37 to3749.61 the3749.77 doctors,3749.93 telling3750.89 me3751.13 the3751.29 doctors3751.45 always3752.01 underestimate3752.33 how3753.05 long3753.21 the3753.45 patient3753.61 will3754.01 live.3754.25 The3754.73 nurses3754.81 were3755.29 right.3755.53 Lastly,3756.49 this3756.89 bill3757.13 opens3757.45 the3757.77 door3757.85 to3758.17 murder.3758.33 What3759.24 if3759.41 a3759.48 person3759.57 changes3760.05 their3760.36 mind3760.53 at3760.84 the3760.93 eleventh3761.09 hour3761.57 after3761.8 making3762.13 a3762.36 suicide3762.61 decision?3763.09 Would3764.2 it3764.53 be3764.61 murder3764.77 if3765.09 that3765.24 financially3765.49 interested3766.05 or3766.53 narcissistic3766.77 family3767.49 member3767.8 injects3768.13 them3768.53 with3768.77 poison3768.93 over3769.8 that3770.13 person's3770.45 feeble3771.01 but3771.49 heartfelt3771.72 last3772.45 minute3772.68 resistance?3773.09 A3774.24 horrific3774.4 image3774.8 that3775.12 I3775.36 want3775.44 you3775.6 to3775.76 hold3775.84 in3776.08 your3776.24 heads3776.4 and3776.72 a3776.88 logical3776.96 risk3777.6 of3777.84 this3778 proposed3778.24 legislation.3778.8 Thank3779.84 you.3780
3782.48 SPEAKER13782.48 -3782.48 Okay.3782.48 At3782.8 this3783.04 time,3783.12 in3783.76 person,3784 I3784.32 have3784.4 welcoming,3784.8 Laura3785.6 Stevens.3786.08
3790.72 Laura?3790.72 At3792.47 this3792.8 time,3793.04 I3793.6 will3793.76 welcome3794.08 Steven3794.56 Bartich.3794.95
3809.65 SPEAKER293809.65 -3809.65 Thank3809.65 you3809.97 very3810.13 much3810.29 for3810.53 the3810.69 opportunity.3810.85
3813.43 I'm3813.43 a3813.59 strong3813.84 supporter3814.16 of3814.64 this3814.72 bill.3814.95 Other3816.39 states3816.64 as3817.04 you've3817.28 heard3817.43 have3818.56 had3818.8 this3818.95 option3819.2 for3819.59 decades.3819.76 The3821.59 fears3821.76 and3822.16 concerns3822.32 of3822.8 the3822.88 disability3823.11 community3823.68 have3824.72 not3824.88 come3825.11 to3825.36 pass3825.43 in3825.76 those3825.84 states,3826.07 and3826.95 given3827.22 the3827.46 guardrails3827.62 established3828.26 in3828.82 the3828.9 Massachusetts3829.06 bill3829.86 that3830.18 you3830.34 have3830.42 before3830.58 you,3830.9 I3832.02 strongly3832.26 suggest3832.9 that3833.3 they3833.46 will3833.62 not3833.86 happen3834.02 in3834.26 Massachusetts.3834.5
3837.22 In3837.22 1980,3837.46 I3838.18 watched3838.34 my3838.66 mother3838.74 die3839.14 of3839.38 breast3839.46 cancer.3839.78 She3841.3 had3841.46 excellent3841.7 medical3842.1 care.3842.58 Nonetheless,3843.76 the3844.24 last3844.39 weeks3844.64 of3844.88 her3845.04 life3845.2 were3845.52 extremely3845.76 painful3846.16 both3846.72 physically3846.95 and3847.52 emotionally.3847.76 She3849.84 would3850.08 have3850.24 been3850.32 a3850.47 perfect3850.56 candidate3850.88 for3852.24 medical3852.47 aid3852.88 in3853.11 dying,3853.28 but3854.72 that3854.95 option3855.2 did3855.52 not3855.76 exist3855.91 then.3856.32 And3858.15 in3858.31 all3858.55 candor,3859.43 I3859.91 doubt3859.99 whether3860.31 my3860.55 sweet,3860.87 smart3861.51 and3861.91 caring3862.07 mother3862.47 would3863.67 have3863.91 chosen3864.07 that3864.39 option.3864.63 In3866.55 2022,3866.79 my3867.99 wife3868.15 of3868.47 533868.63 years3869.19 died.3869.51 She3870.71 fought3870.95 through3871.27 several3871.51 years3871.83 of3872.23 pain,3872.39 anguish,3873.11 loss3874.66 of3874.91 control3875.14 and3875.7 so3876.03 forth.3876.18 She3877.79 was3877.95 not3878.11 terminally3878.34 ill.3878.82 She3880.27 was3880.51 a3880.66 nurse3880.82 and3881.07 a3881.31 nurse3881.39 practitioner3881.63 for3882.18 over3882.43 303882.66 years.3882.91 She3884.18 told3884.43 me3884.66 many3884.82 times3885.07 based3885.47 on3885.7 her3885.86 experiences3886.11 with3886.82 her3887.07 patients3887.22 at3887.63 the3887.79 VA3887.86 that3889.54 there3889.7 are3889.94 a3890.02 lot3890.1 of3890.26 things3890.34 worse3890.74 than3891.14 dying.3891.46 We3893.06 even3893.3 talked3893.54 about3893.78 going3894.1 to3894.26 Switzerland3894.5 to3895.46 take3895.7 advantage3895.94 of3896.42 the3896.5 options3896.66 there3897.14 regarding3898.26 end3898.82 of3898.98 life3899.14 choices3899.38 for3899.86 those3900.02 who3900.26 are3900.42 not3900.5 terminally3900.66 ill.3901.22 But3902.97 before3903.14 we3903.38 could3903.61 initiate3903.93 actions3904.41 to3904.82 go3904.97 to3905.14 Switzerland,3905.3 my3906.97 wife3907.14 had3907.38 a3907.53 stroke3907.61 and3908.41 died3908.66 33908.97 days3909.14 later.3909.38
3912.34 Also3912.34 in3912.66 2022,3912.89 I3914.26 was3914.34 diagnosed3914.66 with3915.14 cancer3915.3 of3915.7 the3915.86 esophagus.3915.93 A3917.22 disease3917.3 that3917.78 after3918.09 that3918.65 is3918.81 often3918.97 painful3919.37 and3919.85 after3920.09 a3920.41 lengthy3920.49 period3920.89 of3921.21 decline3921.29 is3922.01 usually3922.25 fatal.3922.57 I3923.93 was3924.01 lucky.3924.25 I3924.89 was3924.97 extremely3925.21 lucky.3925.69 It3926.89 was3927.05 found3927.21 early3927.53 and3927.85 after3928.09 treatment,3928.41 I'm3929.77 well.3930.01 Had3931.82 I3931.97 not3932.21 been3932.3 so3932.53 fortunate,3932.86 I3933.66 certainly3933.89 would3934.21 have3934.45 wanted3934.61 the3934.86 options3935.01 of3935.49 this3935.57 bill.3935.82 Whether3936.93 I3937.34 would3937.41 have3937.66 used3937.97 those3938.38 options,3938.61 that3939.66 would3939.89 have3940.05 been3940.14 up3940.38 to3940.45 me.3940.61 But3942.21 I3942.38 would3942.53 have3942.69 liked3942.93 to3943.34 have3943.49 the3943.73 option.3943.89 There3945.24 is3945.56 no3945.72 reason3945.88 that3946.12 Massachusetts3946.36 residents3947 should3948.52 have3948.76 to3948.92 go3949 to3949.16 another3949.4 state3949.8 to3950.28 secure3950.44 these3950.76 options.3951.48 I3952.6 urge3952.84 you3953.08 pass3953.72 this3953.96 legislation3954.2 this3955.24 year.3955.48 Thank3956.12 you.3956.36
3959.3 SPEAKER13959.3 -3959.3 Thank3959.3 you.3959.53
3964.09 At3964.09 this3964.66 time,3964.97 I3965.61 have,3965.78 Laura3967.86 Stevens.3968.26
3972.89 SPEAKER303972.89 -3972.89 No.3972.89
3975.1 SPEAKER13975.1 -3975.1 Okay.3975.1 We're3976.06 looking3976.38 for3976.7 Donald3976.94 Farley.3977.42 I3978.06 don't3978.14 think3978.38 we've3978.54 seen3978.78 him3978.94 on3979.18 Teams.3979.34
3983.58 On3983.58 Teams,3983.9 looking3984.3 for3984.54 a3984.61 Sigrid3984.86 Schmalzer.3985.5
3990.14 SPEAKER313990.14 -3990.14 Hi.3990.14 Hi.3990.38 Can3990.7 you3990.93 hear3991.09 me?3991.26
3991.49 SPEAKER13991.49 -3991.49 We3991.49 can3991.74 hear3991.89 you.3992.05
3992.38 SPEAKER313992.38 -3992.38 Thank3992.38 you.3992.54 Thank3993.02 you3993.26 so3993.41 much.3993.66 Thank3994.3 you3994.54 so3994.78 much3994.86 for3995.09 this3995.34 opportunity3995.57 to3996.22 share3996.38 my3996.7 experience,3996.93 and3997.66 thank3997.89 you3998.14 to,3998.54 senator3999.34 Comerford3999.74 and4000.22 senator4000.3 Decker4000.78 and4001.09 everyone4001.18 else4001.57 whose4001.82 tireless4002.14 efforts4002.61 have4003.09 made4003.78 this4004.26 possibility4004.5 come4005.22 once4005.54 again.4005.86 This4006.82 legislation4006.98 is4008.1 needed4008.34 not4009.06 just4009.3 for4009.54 patients4009.78 but4010.26 also4010.5 for4010.9 their4011.06 families.4011.3 In4012.5 2015,4012.74 I4013.62 had4013.78 to4014.02 help4014.18 my4014.42 father4014.66 and4015.14 his4015.3 life.4015.54 He4016.51 was4016.66 suffering4016.9 miserably4017.39 from4017.94 an4018.18 untreatable4018.34 neurological4019.14 illness.4020.59 And4020.66 the4020.9 doctors4021.07 could4021.39 not4021.63 give4021.78 him4021.94 any4022.18 information4022.42 on4023.14 when4023.39 nature4023.78 would4024.18 take4024.42 its4024.66 course.4024.9 He4025.78 was4026.03 very4026.26 clear4026.51 that4026.82 he4026.98 wanted4027.07 to4027.39 get4027.46 out4027.63 as4027.78 quickly4027.94 as4028.28 possible.4028.52 And4029.08 there4029.32 was4029.48 no4029.64 question4029.8 in4030.2 my4030.36 mind4030.6 of4031 my4031.16 ethical4031.48 and4031.88 filial4032.04 duty4032.44 to4032.76 help4032.92 him4033.16 escape4033.4 his4033.72 suffering4033.96 and4034.36 have4034.6 the4034.76 dignified4035 death4035.48 that4035.8 he4035.96 expected.4036.2 But4037.24 he4037.4 did4037.56 not4037.72 live4037.88 in4038.04 a4038.2 place4038.28 with4038.52 end4038.76 of4038.84 life4039 options.4039.32 And4039.72 so4039.88 it4040.12 fell4040.28 to4040.52 me4040.68 to4040.92 figure4041.08 out4041.4 what4041.56 his4041.8 limited4041.96 choices4042.44 were.4042.92 It4043.68 was4043.84 a4043.93 horrible4044.09 and4044.49 scary4044.81 thing4045.13 for4045.36 me4045.53 to4045.68 have4045.77 to4046.01 do4046.09 on4046.41 top4046.57 of4046.81 losing4046.97 my4047.36 father.4047.61 I4048.24 did4048.32 not4048.57 want4048.72 to4049.05 orchestrate4049.2 my4049.77 father's4049.93 death.4050.32 And4050.57 I4050.81 worried4050.97 about4051.2 the4051.45 legal4051.61 implications4052.01 of4052.72 helping4052.81 him4053.2 die.4053.45 Without4054.16 legal4054.72 physician4055.2 assisted4055.68 end4056.16 of4056.32 life,4056.49 the4056.81 options4057.05 were4057.45 really4057.68 unclear.4058.09 I4059.08 actually4059.32 even4059.48 briefly4059.96 thought4060.28 about4060.6 trying4060.84 to4061.08 get4061.16 him4061.32 some4061.56 street4061.8 drugs.4062.04 But4062.36 I4062.6 had4062.68 24062.84 small4063.16 children.4063.4 I4063.88 did4063.96 not4064.12 want4064.36 to4064.52 risk4064.6 going4064.84 to4065.08 jail.4065.24 And4065.8 that4065.96 was4066.12 a4066.2 scary4066.28 option4066.6 for4066.92 all4067.08 kinds4067.24 of4067.48 other4067.64 reasons4067.88 as4068.2 well.4068.36 I4069.32 looked4069.48 up4069.72 freezing4069.96 to4070.36 death.4070.52 It4071.01 was4071.17 January4071.41 and4071.89 bitterly4072.05 cold.4072.53 So4072.69 I4072.93 thought4073.01 maybe4073.26 we4073.57 could4073.65 give4073.82 him4074.05 some4074.21 alcohol4074.45 and4074.86 sit4075.01 with4075.17 him4075.34 outside,4075.49 until4077.17 he4077.49 died.4077.73 He4078.14 found4078.38 that4078.61 idea4078.78 too4079.17 horrible,4079.34 as4079.73 you4079.89 can4080.05 imagine.4080.21 The4081.17 only4081.41 other4081.65 thing4081.82 I4082.14 could4082.3 offer4082.45 him4082.78 was4083.09 for4083.34 him4083.49 to4083.65 simply4083.82 stop4084.21 eating4084.45 and4084.69 drinking.4084.93 And4085.34 he4085.49 decided4085.65 he4086.14 could4086.3 manage4086.53 that.4087.55 His4087.87 primary4088.19 care4088.51 physician4088.83 declared4089.47 him4089.87 terminally4090.19 ill4090.75 so4090.99 that4091.15 we4091.31 could4091.47 get4091.63 hospice4091.87 care4092.27 set4092.59 up.4092.75 But4092.91 that4093.07 was4093.23 the4093.47 only4093.63 support4094.03 that4094.75 the4094.91 physician4095.07 could4095.47 legally4095.71 give4096.19 us.4096.35 The4097.15 hospice4097.31 nurses4097.79 were4098.19 able4098.35 to4098.59 supply4098.75 morphine.4099.23 I4099.79 think4099.95 that4100.19 did4100.35 help.4100.59 But4100.91 we4101.07 were4101.23 worried4101.39 about4102.1 giving4102.19 him4102.34 nightmares4102.59 if4103.15 we4103.22 gave4103.39 him4103.55 too4103.78 much.4103.94 And4104.51 I4104.66 think4104.82 we4104.98 ended4105.15 up4105.47 giving4105.63 him4105.94 too4106.26 little4106.59 considering4107.06 that4107.55 the4107.78 goal4107.94 was4108.19 a4108.3 quicker4108.43 and4108.82 less4108.98 painful4109.22 death.4109.7 Honestly,4110.43 I4110.9 don't4111.06 know4111.22 because4111.47 I'm4111.7 not4111.86 a4112.1 doctor.4112.26 And4112.66 I4112.82 still4112.98 just4113.39 worry.4113.86 I4114.19 agonize4114.34 over4114.82 whether4115.3 those4115.55 64115.86 days4116.1 he4116.43 spent4116.7 getting4116.94 progressively4117.18 more4117.82 dehydrated4118.06 may4118.7 have4118.94 been4119.1 torture4119.26 for4119.74 him.4119.82 It4120.7 would4120.78 have4120.94 been4121.1 made4121.34 an4121.58 enormous4121.82 difference4122.38 to4122.7 have4122.86 the4123.02 assistance4123.26 of4123.66 a4123.82 doctor4123.9 with4124.3 the4124.46 right4124.62 knowledge4124.86 and4125.26 the4125.42 right4125.58 medications.4125.82 The4126.94 right4127.1 medications4127.34 would4127.9 have4128.06 allowed4128.3 my4128.62 father4128.78 to4129.1 depart4129.34 far4129.74 more4129.98 quickly4130.22 and4130.54 with4130.78 far4130.94 less4131.18 anguish.4131.5 And4132.44 working4132.68 with4132.84 a4132.99 doctor4133.23 backed4133.64 by4134.03 the4134.27 law4134.44 would4134.76 have4134.91 lifted4135.15 a4135.48 terrible4135.64 burden4136.19 from4136.68 my4136.99 shoulders4137.07 and4137.64 from4137.88 my4138.11 mother's4138.27 shoulders.4138.68 I4139.55 am4139.72 also4139.95 certain4140.44 in4140.91 response4141.15 to4141.64 what4141.8 you're4141.95 hearing4142.19 from4142.44 some4142.68 other4142.91 folks4143.15 on4143.48 this,4143.64 in4144.27 this4144.44 session4144.68 that4145.48 the4145.72 involvement4145.88 of4146.52 a4146.68 physician4146.76 would4147.31 have4147.55 increased,4148.15 not4148.87 decreased,4149.35 the4149.99 certainty4150.15 that4150.71 my4150.95 father4151.11 or4151.43 anyone4151.67 in4152.07 his4152.23 situation4152.47 could4153.19 make4153.35 his4153.51 decision4153.75 without4154.23 coercion4154.71 and4155.51 with4155.75 all4155.91 the4156.07 necessary4156.31 information.4156.87 There's4157.35 no4157.67 way4157.83 that4157.99 I,4158.15 with4158.79 my4159.11 relationship4159.51 to4160.23 him4160.39 and,4160.71 you4161.63 know,4161.78 wanted4162.34 to4162.59 be4162.66 in4162.9 that4163.06 position.4163.39 My4164.34 mother4164.59 now4164.9 lives4165.15 near4165.63 me4165.86 in4166.02 Massachusetts4166.19 and4166.9 is4167.06 considering4167.22 her4167.78 options4168.02 down4168.43 the4168.66 road.4168.74 We're4169.06 wondering4169.3 whether4169.7 we4169.94 need4170.02 to4170.19 establish4170.34 a4170.82 relationship4170.98 with4171.55 a4171.7 doctor4171.78 in4172.1 Vermont4172.26 that4172.82 she4173.06 can4173.22 receive4173.39 the4173.78 full4173.86 range4174.1 of4174.34 care.4174.51 Shouldn't4175.71 she4176.03 be4176.27 able4176.43 to4176.75 receive4176.99 that4177.39 kind4177.63 of4177.79 care4177.95 here4178.35 in4178.59 her4178.75 home4178.99 state?4179.23 Thank4179.63 you4179.87 so4180.03 much.4180.19
4181.71 SPEAKER14181.71 -4181.71 Thank4181.71 you.4182.03 At4182.75 this4182.91 time,4183.15 I4183.47 would4183.63 welcome4183.87 Kent4184.43 Scott.4184.83
4189.76 Welcome.4189.76
4197.84 SPEAKER174197.84 -4197.84 Well,4197.84 good4198.16 morning.4198.32 And4198.8 thank4199.03 you4199.28 for4199.44 the4199.6 opportunity4199.76 to4200.24 testify,4200.4 today.4201.44 In4202.4 a4202.64 contrarian4202.88 view,4203.44 in4203.68 opposition4203.92 to4204.64 20254206.88 and4207.92 144208.24 86,4208.64 which4209.2 legalized4209.52 physician4210.56 assisted4210.96 suicide4211.44 in4211.92 Massachusetts.4212.08 I4214.1 believe4214.18 the4214.41 bill4214.57 is4214.9 disguised4215.06 as4216.57 cruelty,4216.81 as4217.77 compassion,4218.02 while4218.66 they4218.9 promise4219.14 a4219.53 way4219.69 out4219.85 of4220.02 unbearable4220.18 suffering.4220.81 In4221.61 reality,4221.85 they4222.34 tell4222.49 the4222.73 most4222.9 vulnerable4223.22 among4223.77 us,4224.1 the4224.41 elderly,4224.57 the4225.53 disability,4225.77 the4226.91 mentally4227.07 ill,4227.63 that4228.43 their4228.67 lives4228.83 are4229.23 not4229.31 worth4229.47 living.4229.79 Not4230.99 just4231.31 no4232.51 just4232.83 society4233.15 puts4233.71 its4233.95 citizens4234.19 in4234.59 a4234.75 position4234.83 where4235.31 they're4235.47 encouraged4235.71 to4237.31 kill4237.39 themselves.4237.71 You've4239.23 all4239.47 heard4239.63 the4239.87 data4240.03 and4240.35 all4240.51 the4240.67 information4240.83 from4241.39 a4241.81 number4241.89 of4242.2 states4242.28 that4242.6 have4242.85 bills4243.01 like4243.41 this.4243.65 Or4245.01 again,4245.24 it's4245.49 always4245.73 referenced4246.05 usually4246.53 because4247.01 it's4247.89 a4249.16 physician,4249.24 a4249.73 suicide4249.89 bill4250.45 has4251.16 been4251.41 legal4251.56 for4251.97 some4252.13 time4252.28 and4252.45 they4252.69 keep4252.85 records4253.01 about4253.56 why4253.97 patients4254.2 choose4254.69 to4254.99 end4255.15 their4255.31 own4255.47 lives.4255.63 And4256.75 the4256.99 conventional4257.15 wisdom4257.55 of4257.95 course4258.03 is4258.27 that4258.43 the4258.67 physician4258.75 assisted4259.15 suicide4259.63 is4260.11 a4260.35 necessary4260.43 compassionate4261.07 choice4261.71 for4262.03 those4262.19 in4262.43 extreme4262.51 pain4262.91 and4263.23 suffering.4263.39 Who4264.51 would4264.67 oppose4264.91 that?4265.31 Who4266.11 would4266.27 oppose4266.43 that4266.75 option4266.99 to4267.31 die4267.47 peacefully4267.71 and4268.83 with4269.07 dignity?4269.31 Well,4271.44
4274.01 pain4274.01 was4274.48 14274.72 of4274.89 the4274.97 lesser4276.48 percentages4277.05 of4277.69 people4277.76 pain4278.16 is4278.48 pain,4278.72 but4280.89 most4281.2 were4281.52 concerned4281.76 that4282.4 they'd4282.8 have4283.13 the4283.36 fear4283.52 of4284.01 being4284.24 a4284.56 burden4284.65 to4285.28 their4285.44 family.4285.76
4288.43 As4288.43 a4288.67 son4288.75 of4288.99 a4289.15 remarkable4289.23 man4289.87 who4291.15 is4291.39 currently4291.55 in4292.99 hospice4293.31 care4293.95 right4294.35 now,4294.59 my4296.35 father4296.67 who4296.99 is4297.23 a4297.47 World4297.63 War4297.95 24298.19 veteran,4299.09 yes,4300.76 he's4300.84 still4301.16 living4301.4 at4302.28 974302.68 with4304.2 244304.93 grandchildren,4305.65 with4306.84 84307.09 grand4307.48 84308.05 great4308.28 grandchildren,4308.76
4311.5 a4311.5 loving4311.66 husband4311.9 of4312.38 my4312.54 late4312.7 mother4313.02 who4313.34 just4313.66 passed4314.14 away4314.54 peacefully,4315.5 palliatively4317.02 in4318.3 hospice4318.7 care,4319.18 a4320.94 wonderful4321.18 father4321.74 to4322.06 me.4322.22 My4323.76 dad4323.91 can't4324.4 take4324.72 care4324.95 of4325.11 himself4325.27 now.4325.76 He4326.8 struggles4327.03 with4327.52 mobility4327.76 issues.4328.31 He's4329.52 not4329.76 in4329.99 good4330.16 health4330.4 and4331.19 his4331.44 mind4331.6 is4331.91 failing.4332.07 It4332.48 requires4332.64 a4332.95 significant4333.11 effort4333.76 on4334.07 my4334.23 family4334.4 and4334.72 I4334.95 to4335.11 keep4335.19 him4335.44 help4336.07 him4336.4 contently,4336.95
4339.98 healthy4339.98 and4340.46 alive,4340.78 of4341.18 course.4341.34 And4341.66 we're4341.9 happy4342.06 to4342.3 do4342.46 it4342.62 because4342.7 we4342.94 love4343.1 our4343.42 dad.4343.58 But4345.02 if4345.26 he4345.42 were4345.66 able4346.06 to4346.3 understand4346.62 the4347.02 nature4347.18 of4347.5 his4347.58 circumstances4347.82 and4348.46 consent4348.7 to4349.02 his4349.18 own4349.34 medical4349.58 care,4349.98 I4351.26 do4351.5 worry4351.66 that4351.98 he4352.14 would4352.3 feel4352.54 like4352.78 a4353.02 burden4353.26 to4353.49 me4353.74 and4353.98 my4354.22 family.4354.38 Should4356.85 he4357.02 have4357.26 an4357.41 option4357.57 to4357.98 take4358.14 his4358.3 life?4358.53 Is4360.06 my4360.3 father's4360.53 life4361.26 less4361.74 valuable4362.14 because4362.7 he's4363.02 not4363.26 in4363.57 his4363.74 prime4364.06 anymore?4364.45 Should4365.81 people4366.05 like4366.29 him4366.53 who4366.77 were4366.85 elderly4367.09 and4367.49 disabled4367.65 be4368.05 tossed4368.29 aside4368.69 by4369.17 society4369.49 since4370.69 they4370.93 serve4371.17 their4371.49 purpose4371.73 and4372.05 aren't4372.29 useful4372.53 anymore?4373.33 Hard4374.93 questions.4375.25 Should4376.77 we4376.93 establish4377.17 a4377.65 legal4378.07 regime4378.31 that4378.86 allows4379.1 them,4379.59 even4380.15 encourages4380.47 them4380.95 to4381.27 die4381.51 deaths4382.47 of4382.86 despair?4383.1 This4384.15 is4384.39 unconscionable4384.63 to4385.27 me4385.43 and4385.59 so4385.82 many4385.99 others4386.23 who4386.55 have4386.7 loved4386.78 ones4387.03 in4387.27 similar4387.43 positions.4387.82 So4388.31 I4389.51 ask4389.74 you4389.99 to4390.95 reconsider4391.19 and4393.63 reject4393.79 this4394.03 counterfeit4394.43 compassion4394.99 of4395.39 physician4396.35 assisted4396.91 suicide4397.47 and4398.75 recommend4398.99 this4399.47 bill4399.71 not4400.43 pass.4400.83
4402.51 SPEAKER14402.51 -4402.51 Thank4402.51 you.4402.75
4402.99 SPEAKER174402.99 -4402.99 Thank4402.99 you,4403.15 and4403.47 good4403.79 morning.4403.95
4406.11 SPEAKER14406.11 -4406.11 Thank4406.11 you.4406.43
4409.99 At4409.99 this4410.07 time,4410.23 I'm4410.47 being4410.72 told4410.88 that4411.11 Glenna4411.35 McKittrick4411.68 is4412.4 not4412.64 on4412.88 Teams.4413.11 Just4413.59 confirming4413.99 that.4414.47
4419.76 Okay.4419.76 I4420.31 do4420.55 believe4420.72 we4421.03 have4421.11 doctor4421.35 Shelley4421.68 Berkowitz4422.07 on4422.88 Teams.4423.03
4430.55 SPEAKER324430.55 -4430.55 Thank4430.55 you,4430.87 Chairwoman4431.99 Decker,4432.71 Chairman4434.71 Driscoll,4435.35 Senator4436.47 Commerford,4437.19 the4437.99 members4438.39 of4438.79 the4438.95 joint4439.03 committee,4439.35 and4440.77 everyone4441.09 here4441.48 who4441.89 has4442.05 worked4442.36 on4442.69 this4442.84 bill4443.16 in4443.4 support4443.73 for4444.77 this4444.93 opportunity,4445.32 to4447.01 share4447.24 my4447.65 personal4447.97 story4448.69 and4449.48 testimony4449.8 in4450.6 strong4450.84 support4451.32 of4451.8 passing4452.05 an4452.52 act4452.77 relative4453.56 to4454.13 end4454.36 of4454.52 life4454.77 options.4455.16 My4456.43 name4456.59 is4456.83 doctor4457.07 Shelly4457.47 Berkowitz.4457.79 I'm4458.83 a4459.07 family4459.31 practice4459.79 physician4460.35 with4461.15 over4461.39 404461.79 years4462.11 experience.4462.59 I4463.87 live4464.19 and4464.43 work4464.59 in,4465.07 Northampton,4466.11 Massachusetts.4466.83 I've4468.27 cared4468.59 for4468.91 patients4469.23 at4470.24 birth,4470.48 and4471.36 I've4471.6 also4471.93 witnessed4472.41 and4473.05 supported4473.28 many4474.01 dying4474.41 patients,4474.89 whether4475.85 at4476.24 home4476.48 or4476.89 in4477.13 the4477.36 hospital4477.6 or4478.16 in4478.32 a4478.48 nursing4478.56 home.4479.05 I4480.24 also4480.56 sadly4481.2 witnessed4481.69 the4482.24 painful4482.41 deaths4482.97 of4483.36 each4483.6 of4483.93 my4484.09 parents,4484.32 Sarah4485.27 and4485.51 Morris4485.99 Berkowitz.4486.47 They4487.91 were4488.15 both4488.39 Holocaust4488.95 survivors,4489.51 so4490.95 their4491.19 life4491.51 experiences4491.99 made4493.19 me4493.51 exquisitely4494.23 sensitive4495.19 to4495.83 and4496.31 aware4496.55 of4496.95 the4497.91 ethical4498.31 issues4499.03 that4499.76 can4499.99 lead4500.31 to4500.55 the4500.8 loss4500.95 of4501.35 human4501.51 dignity,4501.84 both4502.72 in4503.03 life4503.27 and4503.76 death.4503.99 As4505.91 a4506.23 result4506.31 of4506.72 my4506.88 experiences4507.11 as4507.99 a4508.23 physician,4508.4 a4509.94 daughter,4510.18 but4510.9 most4511.22 importantly4511.46 as4512.18 a4512.42 human4512.5 being,4512.9 my4513.86 journey4514.1 led4514.82 me4515.06 from4515.54 initially4516.1 being4516.66 against4517.22 me4517.78 to4519.06 becoming4519.3 a4519.86 strong4520.02 and4520.42 staunch4520.9 survivor4521.7 of4522.26 this4522.42 bill4522.74 for4523.14 the4523.38 past4523.7 34524.1 to4524.34 44524.5 years.4524.82 During4526.73 each4527.2 of4527.52 my4527.69 parents'4528.01 terminal4528.73 illnesses,4529.28 my4530.56 father4530.81 from4531.2 stomach4531.52 cancer4531.93 at4532.48 almost4532.81 99,4533.2 my4535.13 mother4535.28 from4535.69 the4535.93 sequelae4536.09 of4536.65 head4536.89 trauma,4537.13 also4537.85 in4538.16 their4538.32 nineties,4538.56 my4539.81 Orthodox4540.05 Jewish4540.77 sisters4541.25 fought4541.97 to4542.37 keep4542.53 them4542.77 alive4543.01 at4543.49 all4543.81 costs,4544.45 regardless4545.73 of4546.45 my4546.69 parents'4546.85 clearly4547.49 expressed4548.13 prior4548.69 riches4549.01 to4549.41 die4549.57 peacefully4549.89 with4550.37 dignity4550.61 and4551.65 without4552.13 their4552.45 consideration4552.77 to4553.57 the4553.65 overt4553.81 pain,4554.41 suffering,4554.73 and4555.38 terrible4555.61 quality4556.18 of4556.57 life4556.65 that4556.9 my4557.05 parents4557.22 then4557.61 had4557.85 to4558.09 powerlessly4558.34 endure4559.05 despite4559.94 the4560.34 well4560.41 meaning4560.65 help4560.98 of4561.22 hospice4561.45 and4561.85 palliative4562.01 care.4562.65 This4564.18 is,4564.41 my4565.61 parents,4566.09 Mars4566.73 and4567.14 Sarah4567.3 Berkowitz,4567.69 when4568.34 they4568.49 were4568.73 in4570.12 love4570.6 after4571.56 being4571.8 liberated,4572.28 healthy,4574.12 and4574.6 the4574.76 image4574.92 that4575.32 I4575.48 would4575.64 love4575.8 to4576.04 have4576.2 retained4576.6 in4577.32 my4577.56 mind.4577.96 This,4579.4 is4580.2 a4580.44 picture4580.6 of4581.24 my4581.56 mother,4581.8 Sarah4582.28 Berkowitz,4582.52 in4584.55 the4584.7 last4584.95 days4585.27 of4585.66 her4585.74 life4585.91 after4586.7 she4586.95 had4587.19 aspirated4587.51 from4588.47 being4588.7 essentially4589.35 force4589.99 fed4590.39 against4591.27 her4591.74 will,4592.06 and4592.47 she4592.78 couldn't4592.95 combat4593.27 it4593.59 at4593.82 the4593.91 time.4594.06 I4596.12 have4596.28 read4596.84 the4597.24 entire4597.48 bill.4597.88 This4598.44 bill4598.76 has4599.16 so4599.48 many4599.72 robust4600.12 safeguards4600.6 in4601.24 it4601.48 to4601.64 preserve4601.8 human4602.28 dignity,4602.6 which4603 I4603.16 can't4603.32 mention4603.64 now.4603.96 You4604.2 all4604.44 know4604.6 it.4604.84 So4605.4 with4605.64 due4605.8 respect4606.04 to4606.44 people4606.52 who4606.84 suggested4607 otherwise,4607.56 they4608.04 have4608.2 not4608.36 read4608.6 the4608.76 bill.4608.92 Rules4610.43 out4610.68 the4610.91 presence4610.99 of4611.47 suicidal4611.64 depression4612.19 to4612.84 require4613.07 legal4613.55 medications4614.03 to4614.76 be4614.84 self4614.99 administered4615.23 with4615.88 no4616.11 physicians4616.27 ever4616.76 being4617.07 required4617.39 to4617.88 write4617.95 a4618.19 position4618.35 against4618.84 their4619.15 personal4619.31 ethics.4619.72 Despite4620.51 ongoing4620.99 scrutiny,4622.2 there's4622.52 been4623 no4623.24 abuse4624.04 made4624.52 since4625 the4625.32 104625.48 states4625.72 and4626.12 Washington4626.28 DC4626.92 in4627.32 the4627.56 194627.64 nineties.4628.04 This4629.96 bill4630.2 needs4630.52 to4630.84 pass4631 so4631.32 that4631.48 terminally4631.72 ill4632.36 patients4632.6 can4633.32 choose4633.56 the4633.88 option4634.04 to4634.76 end4634.92 their4635.08 life4635.32 with4635.56 dignity4635.64 on4636.2 their4636.36 own4636.68 terms.4636.92 Please4637.93 pass4638.16 this4638.48 bill4638.73 now.4639.13 Thank4639.6 you.4639.85
4640.73 SPEAKER214640.73 -4640.73 Thank4640.73 you.4640.97 Thank4641.2 you4641.44 for4641.6 your4641.85 testimony.4642.01 Next4643.6 we4644.01 will4644.32 hear4644.56 from4644.81 Finn4645.13 Gardner,4645.44 director4646.16 of4646.65 policy4646.89 and4647.36 advocacy,4647.69 autistic4648.48 people4649.13 of4649.52 color4649.69 fund.4650.09 Welcome.4651.36
4656.41 SPEAKER44656.41 -4656.41 Oh.4656.41
4670.8 Welcome.4670.8
4676.24 SPEAKER334676.24 -4676.24 Hello.4676.24
4681.43 SPEAKER344681.43 -4681.43 Today,4681.43 I4681.67 will4681.83 be4681.99 testifying4682.15 against4682.87 this.4683.35 To4685.43 its4685.75 supporters,4685.99 assisted4686.47 suicide4686.87 is4687.35 a4687.43 compassionate4687.51 option4688.15 for4688.95 people4689.19 with4689.51 debilitating4689.75 terminal4690.47 illnesses4690.87 like4691.19 late4691.43 stage4691.59 cancer.4691.91 They4693.48 frame4693.64 their4693.88 arguments4694.03 in4694.35 terms4694.52 of4694.84 bodily4694.91 autonomy4695.31 and4695.72 self4695.95 determination4696.11 in4697.48 the4697.64 face4697.8 of4698.03 excruciating4698.11 pain4698.84 and4699.07 agony.4699.23 And4700.52 lambaste4700.76 their4701.23 opponents4701.4 as4701.88 conservative4702.03 pro4702.6 lifers4702.76 or4703.31 heartless4703.56 ghouls4703.95 who4704.19 want4704.27 nothing4704.44 more4704.76 than4704.91 to4705.15 watch4705.23 hapless4705.48 people4705.88 suffer.4706.19
4709.5 But4709.5 the4709.74 problem4709.82 is,4710.3 a4712.22 lot4712.38 of4712.62 the4712.7 reasons4712.86 why4713.5 people4713.74 opt4714.62 for4715.02 assisted4715.42 suicide4715.82 are4717.26 not4717.5 the4719.42 objective4719.66 factors4720.3 of4720.78 pain4721.02 or4722.3 severity4722.54 of4723.02 And4724.77 so4724.85 many4725.16 worry4725.49 about4725.73 being4725.89 a4726.13 burden4726.2 to4726.52 their4726.69 family,4726.85 their4727.16 friends,4727.32 their4727.65 community,4727.89 which4729.09 is4729.32 a4729.41 common4729.56 fear4729.81 among4730.05 people4730.28 with4730.45 disabilities.4730.6 So4732.6 in4732.77 a4732.93 study4733.01 from4733.24 British4733.49 Columbia4733.81 in4734.28 Canada,4734.45 Researchers4734.93 found4735.32 that4735.56 534736.28 percent4736.69 of4737.16 people4737.24 who4738.05 received4738.13 assisted4738.52 suicide4739.02 considered4739.34 loss4739.74 of4739.98 autonomy4740.22 a4740.94 factor4741.1 in4741.42 entering4741.58 their4741.82 lives,4742.06 nearly4742.46 as4742.78 much4742.86 as4743.02 they4743.1 did4743.18 disease4743.42 symptoms4743.74 themselves,4744.14 up4744.54 to4744.7 604744.86 percent.4745.1
4748.38 And4748.38 among4748.54 those4748.78 eligible4749.02 for4749.42 assisted4749.58 suicide4749.98 that4750.38 did4750.62 not4750.78 choose4750.94 it,4751.26 334751.66 percent4752.22 were4752.54 focused4752.7 on4753.02 their4753.18 fear4753.42 of4753.66 future4754.02 suffering,4754.43 while4755.47 174755.78 percent4756.27 considered4756.59 disease4756.98 symptoms.4757.39 And4758.98 other4759.23 research4759.55 bears4759.94 this4760.19 out.4760.34 Among4761.7 assisted4762.02 suicide4762.43 recipients4762.98 in4763.63 Oregon,4763.86 people4764.74 rank4765.06 the4765.3 loss4765.39 of4765.55 autonomy,4765.7 the4766.19 loss4766.27 of4766.51 dignity,4766.59 and4767.33 the4767.49 loss4767.65 of4767.81 control4767.97 of4768.29 bodily4768.53 functions4769.01 over4769.33 pain.4769.65 So4770.77 all4771.01 these4771.25 fears4771.41 are4771.65 inextricably4771.89 tied4772.61 with4773.01 disability4773.25 and4773.73 how4773.89 it4774.01 is4774.13 perceived4774.29 and4774.77 experienced.4774.93 It4775.89 is4776.05 not4776.21 their4776.37 pain4776.61 alone4776.77 that4777.41 those4777.73 with4778.05 that4779.17 those4779.33 who4779.65 seek4779.81 assisted4780.05 suicide4780.53 fear,4781.01 but4781.57 the4781.81 disabled4781.97 condition.4782.53
4785.24 Idea4785.24 that4785.53 it4785.81 is4785.89 shameful4786.28 and4786.6 degrading4786.77 to4787.81 need4787.97 assistance4788.05 with4788.45 activities4788.69 of4789.16 daily4789.24 living,4789.56 that4790.05 it4790.2 is4790.36 burdensome,4790.45 that4790.93 is4791.09 a4791.16 reason4791.32 to4791.56 end4791.65 one's4791.81 life.4792.13 And4793.16 all4793.41 these4793.56 fears4793.73 result4794.28 from4795.01 deeply4795.4 ingrained4795.72 ableism4795.96 or4796.52 the4796.68 systemic4796.84 prejudice4797.24 against4797.64 people4797.88 with4798.2 disabilities.4798.36
4801.24 And4801.24 there4803 have4803.24 been4803.32 statements4803.56 from4803.96 the4804.12 United4804.28 Nations4804.6 that4805 have4805.16 condemned4805.32 it4805.88 that4806.6 have4806.68 condemned4806.92 assisted4807.4 suicide.4807.88 The4808.84 UN4809.08 said4809.56 that4809.72 it4809.88 was4809.96 a4810.15 form4810.23 of4810.55 discrimination4810.64 that4811.84 draws4812.07 strength4812.55 from4812.88 ableist4813.11 assumptions4813.51 about4813.99 the4814.23 inherent4814.31 quality4814.72 of4815.11 life4815.19 or4815.43 worth4815.68 of4815.99 a4816.15 life4816.31 of4816.55 a4816.72 person4816.8 with4817.11 a4817.27 disability.4817.35 And4819.11 because4819.43 of4819.68 this,4819.76 we're4819.91 presented4820.07 with4820.55 24820.72 false4820.95 choices,4821.27 live4821.84 with4821.99 shame4822.15 or4822.47 die4822.64 with4822.8 dignity.4823.03 But4823.76 this4823.91 isn't4824.07 a4824.4 choice4824.55 at4824.88 all.4825.03 It's4826.34 just4826.58 capitulation4826.9 to4827.62 the4827.78 forces4827.94 of4828.34 ableism.4828.42
4833.62 And4833.62
4836.26 sometimes4836.26 some4836.82 say4837.06 that4837.22 because4837.38 of4837.54 eligibility4837.78 requirements4838.42 and4838.98 other4839.22 safeguards4839.46 exist,4840.44 there's4841.16 no4841.48 way4841.65 for4841.81 the4841.97 system4842.13 to4842.44 be4842.52 abused.4842.69 But4843.09 the4843.24 evidence4843.32 says4843.73 otherwise.4843.97 There4846.13 are4846.36 places4846.52 that4846.85 have4847.01 expanded4847.24 assisted4847.73 suicide4848.2 to4848.85 include4849.01 mental4849.97 health4850.36 conditions.4850.69 For4852.55 example,4852.79 in4852.95 The4853.19 Netherlands,4853.43 and4855.83 Canada4856.15 recently4856.79 expanded4857.35 their,4857.83 assisted4859.11 suicide4859.51 laws4859.99 to4860.23 include4860.39 mental4860.71 health4860.95 conditions.4861.19
4863.91 So4863.91 I4865.31 encourage4865.56 you4865.95 to4866.11 report4866.35 report4866.84 this4867.07 unfavorably.4867.48
4870.03 SPEAKER14870.03 -4870.03 Thank4870.03 you.4870.27 At4872.11 this4872.27 time,4872.6 by4873.24 way4873.4 of4873.64 teams,4873.8 I4874.11 wanna4874.27 welcome4874.52 Steve4874.99 Tugas.4875.4
4888.52 Steve,4888.52 we4888.92 were4889.16 unable4889.32 to4889.8 hear4889.88 you.4890.04 Are4890.28 you4890.36 able4890.52 to4890.76 unmute4891 on4891.64 your4891.8 end?4892.04
4898.98 We4898.98 can't4899.15 hear4899.47 you,4899.7 Steve.4900.02
4907.05 We're4907.05 just4907.37 we're4907.61 gonna4907.77 give4908.01 you4908.09 a4908.33 few4908.41 seconds4908.65 to4908.97 see4909.13 if4909.29 there's4909.37 a4909.61 way4909.69 of,4909.85 unmuting4910.89 on4911.53 your4911.69 end.4911.85
4916.25 SPEAKER354916.25 -4916.25 Am4916.25 I4916.49 am4916.81 I4916.97 on4917.21 now?4917.45
4917.85 SPEAKER14917.85 -4917.85 We4917.85 yes.4918.09 Welcome.4918.33 We4918.73 can4918.89 hear4919.05 you4919.21 and4919.45 see4919.61 you.4919.85
4921.37 SPEAKER354921.37 -4921.37 Okay.4921.37 My4922.39 name4922.63 is4922.94 Steve4923.27 Tugas.4923.66 I4925.43 thank4925.66 you4926.63 distinguished4926.78 legislators4927.74 for4928.94 the4929.1 opportunity4929.27 to4929.82 testify4929.98 against4930.78 20254931.74 and4932.94 1486.4933.19 In4934.9 my4935.06 early4935.22 twenties,4935.7 I4936.18 was4936.34 first4936.5 diagnosed,4936.74 with4938.9 hypertension4939.38 requiring4940.18 medication.4940.74 It4941.94 was4942.1 a4942.42 point4942.58 back4942.98 then4943.54 when4943.86 I4944.1 made4944.26 the4944.5 second4944.66 final4945.06 decision4945.62 to4946.1 kill4946.26 myself,4946.58 which4947.36 doing4947.77 so4948.01 is4948.65 the4948.89 final.4949.05 The4949.45 second4949.6 is4950.24 determining4950.49 where,4951.05 when,4951.28 how,4951.53 and4951.85 nobody4951.93 was4952.32 talking4952.56 me4952.97 out4953.2 out4953.6 of4953.85 it.4954.24 On4954.65 my4954.81 way4955.05 to4955.28 do4955.36 it,4955.6 I4955.69 had4955.93 thought,4956.09 since4956.81 God4957.13 is4957.36 sovereign,4957.6 if4958.01 God4958.24 didn't4958.49 want4958.73 me4959.05 here,4959.2 I4959.53 wouldn't4959.69 be4960.01 here.4960.16 And4960.81 since4960.97 I4961.28 was,4961.45 he4962.17 must4962.41 want4962.57 me4962.89 here.4963.13 But4963.61 am4963.85 I4964.01 gonna4964.09 use4964.41 my4964.73 free4964.97 will4965.21 to4965.77 throw4965.93 my4966.17 nose4966.33 at4966.65 him4966.89 and4967.05 decide4967.21 I4967.61 know4967.77 better?4968.01 No.4968.81 My4969.45 mom4969.61 said4969.93 she4970.17 noticed4970.33 by4970.73 going4970.97 there,4971.29 I4971.45 could4971.53 point4971.77 out4972.09 a4972.25 a4972.89 major4972.97 side4973.29 effect4973.53 of4973.85 the4974.01 new4974.09 blood4974.33 pressure4974.49 medication4974.81 with4975.37 severe4975.61 depression.4976.01 I4976.94 stopped4977.18 taking4977.41 it4977.81 and4977.98 suddenly4978.14 the4978.61 bottle4978.69 lifted4979.09 like4979.49 night4979.73 and4979.98 day.4980.61 I4980.85 was4980.94 cured4981.26 of4981.65 suicide4981.73 for4982.3 decades4982.53 and4982.94 so4983.18 I4983.41 thought,4983.57 had4984.38 I4984.61 succeeded,4984.77 I4985.65 wouldn't4985.9 have4986.14 experienced4986.38 my4986.94 name4987.09 on4987.41 a4987.49 patent4987.65 nor4988.3 developed4988.61 software4989.09 for4989.57 robotic4990.35 prototype4990.75 performed4991.39 surgery4991.79 over4992.27 the4992.51 Internet4992.67 nor4993.47 performed4993.79 as4994.19 a4994.35 late4994.51 singer4994.67 in4995.07 a4995.23 band4995.31 of4995.63 thousands.4995.79 I4996.67 also4996.91 wouldn't4997.23 have4997.55 been4997.71 asked4998.11 by4998.43 mascots,4998.67 national4999.63 committee5000.03 woman5000.35 in5000.67 20165000.75 to5001.47 run5001.55 committee5002.38 woman5002.81 in5003.26 15003.65 Quincy.5003.9 No5004.61 received5004.85 31.55005.41 of5006.38 the5006.53 vote5006.69 presented5007.18 the5007.73 vote5007.81 against5008.14 the5008.38 now5008.53 speaker5008.85 of5009.18 the5009.26 house5009.34 in5009.57 2020.5009.73 All5010.85 that5011.09 ended5011.26 on5011.65 Black5011.81 Friday5012.05 of5012.45 205012.53 225012.94 as5013.81 I5013.97 lay5014.22 there5014.45 all5014.61 alone5014.85 in5015.41 the5015.57 dark5015.65 on5015.97 a5016.14 hospital5016.7 journey5017.02 half5017.5 paralyzed5017.74 with5018.22 a5018.3 stroke.5018.38 I5019.02 believe5019.18 my5019.5 life5019.74 was5019.98 over5020.3 and5020.54 pray5020.7 fervently.5021.02 Father,5022.38 to5022.78 your5022.94 hands,5023.1 I5023.42 commit5023.58 my5023.9 spirit.5024.06 I've5024.86 always5025.1 been5025.42 staunch5025.66 ally5026.14 against5026.38 this5026.78 since5027.26 this5027.58 suicide,5027.82 but5028.86 I've5029.1 just5029.19 been5029.59 put5029.74 in5029.98 a5030.15 situation5030.31 to5030.86 see5030.95 the5031.19 issue5031.27 from5031.59 the5031.82 other5031.98 side.5032.23 If5032.95 it5033.19 had5033.27 been5033.59 legal,5033.82 I5034.23 would've5034.39 would5035.51 I5035.74 have5035.82 opted5036.06 for5036.39 assisted5036.63 suicide5037.1 that5037.66 first5037.82 night?5038.06 If5038.63 I5038.86 didn't5038.95 have5039.27 faith5039.43 in5039.74 Christ,5039.98 I5040.7 would5041.02 have5041.27 been5041.51 an5041.91 extremely5042.06 tempting5042.78 offer,5043.19 again,5043.96 to5044.2 wrest5044.44 control5044.76 from5045.24 God.5045.48 I5046.2 chose5046.36 only5046.76 option5047.16 available5047.64 to5048.12 trust.5048.28 It5049.08 wasn't5049.24 easy.5049.64 My5050.52 family5050.76 in5051.48 North5051.64 Carolina5051.96 is5052.44 dealing5052.52 with5052.92 their5053.08 disabilities,5053.32 and,5054.76 I5055.32 was5055.48 at5055.64 the5055.88 mercy5055.96 of5056.36 Fernslife5056.52 State5057.08 Bread5057.4 Day5057.72 to5057.96 coast5058.04 and5058.36 Lonnie5058.61 Brown5058.94 on5059.1 the5059.26 Boston5059.49 Broadside.5059.82 I've5061.41 been5061.66 I5062.14 was5062.38 totally5062.53 independent,5063.1 but5063.66 now,5063.9 I'm5064.78 I'm5065.02 still5065.49 in5065.82 danger5065.98 of5066.38 being5066.53 homeless.5066.78 Had5067.57 the5067.82 option5067.98 been5068.94 available5069.18 and5069.66 I5069.9 chose5070.06 it5070.38 during5070.53 those5070.78 25071.02 years,5071.26 I5071.49 wouldn't5071.57 have5071.9 been5072.06 remotely5072.22 completely5073.54 my5073.7 contract5075.06 job5075.46 to5075.78 develop5075.86 software5076.26 remotely,5076.9 knew5077.86 the5078.02 inside5078.18 of5078.58 veins5078.74 and5079.14 arteries5079.22 and5079.62 heart.5079.78 I5080.42 wouldn't5080.58 have5080.82 been5080.9 able5081.06 to5081.3 continue5081.46 serving5081.94 on5082.26 25082.42 state5082.66 boards5082.9 and5083.06 I5083.22 wouldn't5083.3 have5083.62 made5083.7 any5083.86 progress5084.18 writing5084.66 my5084.98 book.5085.14
5088.09 I5088.09 think5088.24 of5088.48 all5088.65 the5088.81 people5088.89 who5089.28 could5089.45 be5089.6 cared5089.85 for5090.16 instead5090.41 if5091.52 the5091.85 left5092.01 didn't5092.24 spend5092.48 their5092.81 time5092.97 relentlessly5093.28 trying5094.01 to5094.24 pass5094.41 these5094.65 bills5094.89 and5095.52 to5095.77 which5095.93 benefit5096.09 are5096.65 they5096.81 really5097.05 for?5097.36 The5097.6 individual5097.85 or5098.48 the5098.65 supposed5098.81 benefit5099.2 of5099.69 society.5099.93 All5100.98 I5101.22 know5101.3 is5101.38 that5101.94 you5102.26 who5102.66 to5102.9 spoke5103.38 with5103.62 these5103.86 bills5104.02 will5104.42 be5104.58 responsible5104.82 for5105.46 all5105.7 the5105.86 lives5106.02 that5106.26 could5106.42 have5106.66 been.5106.9
5111.22 SPEAKER15111.22 -5111.22 Thank5111.22 you.5111.54 Thank5112.02 you5112.26 for5112.42 your5112.58 testimony.5112.82
5113.38 SPEAKER45113.38 -5113.38 You're5113.38
5113.54 SPEAKER355113.54 -5113.54 welcome.5113.54 Thank5114.1 you.5114.34
5115.45 SPEAKER15115.45 -5115.45 At5115.45 this5115.77 time,5115.93 I5116.41 would5116.65 welcome,5116.89 by5117.6 way5117.85 of5118.09 teams,5118.16 Mike5118.65 Mosbrucker.5118.97
5124.24 Doesn't5124.24 look5124.56 like5124.73 Mike5124.97 is5125.2 on5125.45 teams.5125.6 I'm5126.73 going5126.89 to5127.2 invite,5127.36 Matt5128.65 Valeri.5129.28 Are5130.08 you5130.32 here,5130.48 Matt?5130.64 Welcome.5132.64
5143.61 SPEAKER45143.61 -5143.61 Good5143.61
5143.77 SPEAKER365143.77 -5143.77 morning.5143.77 Suicidal5144.97 thoughts5145.53 or5145.77 actions,5145.93 including5146.41 in5146.89 older5147.05 adults5147.28 and5147.69 people5147.85 with5148.16 life5148.24 threatening5148.49 disabilities,5148.97 are5150.16 a5150.41 sign5150.49 of5150.73 extreme5150.89 distress5151.28 and5152.24 should5152.41 not5152.65 be5152.73 ignored.5152.89 If5154.01 you5154.16 or5154.32 someone5154.49 you5154.73 know5154.89 needs5155.13 immediate5155.28 help,5155.69 please5156.01 call5157.38 or5157.62 text5157.78 the5158.1 National5158.26 Suicide5158.66 Prevention5159.06 Lifeline5159.46 at5159.94 988.5160.1 My5161.38 name5161.54 is5161.7 Matt5161.86 Vallere.5162.1 I'm5162.58 a5162.66 Worcester5162.82 native5163.22 and5163.86 a5164.1 call5164.18 volunteer,5164.5 EMS,5164.98 and5165.3 first5165.46 responder.5165.7 I'm5167.3 not5167.46 here5167.7 to5167.94 take5168.02 a5168.26 position5168.34 on5168.66 the5168.82 implications5168.9 of5169.46 somebody5169.62 taking5169.94 their5170.18 own5170.34 life,5170.58 which5170.9 is5171.14 legal5171.3 to5172.34 do5172.5 with5172.66 with5172.98 impunity5173.14 here5173.94 in5174.18 the5174.26 Commonwealth.5174.41 With5176.26 this5176.49 public5176.73 policy,5177.06 however,5177.7 you5178.81 have5178.98 to5179.14 ask,5179.3 could5179.53 it5179.77 hurt5179.94 someone?5180.18 Could5181.22 someone5181.45 be5181.85 coerced?5182.1 I5183.14 argue5183.3 that5183.61 the5183.77 answer5183.94 is5184.18 yes.5184.34 There's5185.22 no5185.45 public5185.61 policy5185.85 that's5186.34 that's5186.57 gonna5186.9 be5187.22 perfectly5187.38 able5187.94 to5188.7 control5189.02 and5189.74 protect5190.06 vulnerable5190.54 people.5190.94 When5191.98 people5192.22 hear5192.38 assisted5192.62 suicide,5192.94 they5193.42 think5193.5 stage5193.74 45193.98 metastatic5194.22 cancer,5194.7 and5194.86 you5195.02 heard5195.1 some5195.34 some5195.58 sad5195.98 stories5196.22 today.5196.62 When5198.06 you5198.3 look5198.46 at5198.62 the5198.7 underlying5198.86 conditions5199.42 in5199.98 the5200.14 data5200.3 from5200.54 legal5200.78 states5201.1 like5201.34 Oregon,5201.5 there5202.14 are5202.38 conditions5202.46 that5203.15 are5203.39 not5203.55 life5203.7 threatening5204.02 with5204.43 treatment.5204.59 Things5205.55 like5205.86 diabetes,5206.59 HIV,5207.39 anorexia,5208.1 arthritis,5208.98 and5209.55 a5209.78 hernia.5209.86 My5211.78 dad5211.94 has5212.27 diabetes.5212.51 If5212.98 he5213.15 gets5213.23 off5213.47 his5213.63 insulin,5213.78 he5214.19 qualifies5214.34 for5214.82 lethal5214.98 drugs5215.39 under5215.7 this5216.1 bill.5216.43 There5218.43 are5218.51 confirmed5218.75 cases5219.23 of5219.63 people5219.79 doing5220.19 this5220.35 in5220.67 other5220.83 states5221.07 that5221.39 have5221.55 legalized.5221.79 Proponents5223.63 and5224.19 physicians5224.43 proponent5225.63 physicians5226.11 and5226.51 lawyers5226.59 have5226.91 been5227.07 overtly5227.23 arguing5227.63 that5228.03 patients5228.19 that5228.59 do5228.83 not5228.99 have5229.23 medical5229.39 conditions5229.87 that5230.76 currently5230.91 render5231.31 a5231.52 65231.72 month5231.95 prognosis,5232.2 like5233.56 early5233.88 stage5234.11 dementia,5234.35 ALS,5234.91 etcetera,5235.31 can5236.03 legally5236.27 voluntarily5236.91 stop5237.64 eating5237.88 and5238.11 drinking5238.27 as5239.07 a,5239.31 quote,5239.48 bridge.5239.88 A5242.03 bridge5242.2 to5242.75 acquire5242.91 lethal5243.23 drugs5243.55 under5243.79 assisted5244.11 suicide5244.43 laws,5244.75 including5244.91 this5245.31 1.5245.55 This5246.43 bill5246.67 would5246.91 allow5247.07 that.5247.39 15248.67 Oregon5248.99 woman,5249.31 a5249.79 woman5249.95 named5250.27 Corrie5250.59 Sontag,5251.07 she5251.87 started5252.27 VSED5252.75 in5253.15 order5253.23 to5253.55 qualify5253.63 for5254.03 lethal5254.19 drugs5254.51 with5254.83 early5254.99 stage5255.23 dementia.5255.55 Her5257.02 doctor5257.19 qualified5257.59 her5257.98 for5258.22 the5258.3 drugs,5258.47 gave5258.7 them5258.94 to5259.1 her,5259.19 and5259.34 she5259.51 died5259.66 85259.98 days5260.15 later.5260.39 This5261.02 is5261.19 a5261.34 person5261.43 who5261.74 did5261.9 not5262.06 have5262.3 a5262.55 terminal5262.63 illness.5263.1
5265.66 Do5265.66 you5265.82 have5265.98 a5266.1 daughter?5266.22 Anybody5266.63 have5267.02 a5267.19 daughter?5267.34 A5268.3 niece.5268.63 I5270.16 myself5270.48 have5270.88 daughters.5271.12 This5272.64 bill5272.96 would5273.2 allow5273.52 a5274 doctor5274.16 to5274.48 help5274.64 my5274.88 daughters5275.12 to5275.52 kill5275.76 themselves5276 with5276.48 your5276.72 lethal5276.96 drugs5277.36 if5278.96 they5279.2 have5279.52 an5279.92 eating5280.08 disorder5280.32 that5280.8 the5280.96 doctor5281.04 thinks5281.36 is5281.6 incurable.5281.76 There's5282.32 no5282.64 clinical5282.8 evidence5283.2 anywhere5284.18 to5285.06 show5285.3 which5285.61 people5286.02 with5286.66 anorexia5286.98 might5288.18 recover5288.66 and5289.22 might5289.38 not.5289.7 You're5290.9 putting5291.22 my5291.61 girls5291.86 at5292.41 risk5292.66 with5293.14 your5293.38 bill5293.61 if5294.02 you5294.18 vote5294.34 this5294.66 through.5294.9 There5296.18 are5296.41 605296.57 known5297.14 cases5297.45 of5298.92 young5299.16 people5299.32 with5299.96 eating5300.2 disorders5300.6 who5301.4 received5301.64 lethal5302.12 drugs5302.6 under5303.08 bills5303.4 just5303.96 like5304.2 this5304.44 1.5304.68 In5306.6 Colorado,5306.92 they5307.64 now5307.8 list5308.12 severe5309.48 protein5309.96 malnutrition,5310.52 125312.01 cases5312.24 over5312.73 the5312.97 course5313.05 of5313.2 time.5313.36 California5314.09 list,5314.73 endocrine,5315.05 nutritional5315.6 metabolic5316.09 disease,5316.57 405317.36 cases5317.77 over5318.16 time,5318.32 and5318.57 they5318.73 have5318.89 confirmed5319.13 that5319.69 that5319.85 category5320.32 includes5320.97 people5321.85 with5322.16 anorexia.5322.41 Look,5323.93 my5324.41 friends5324.73 who5325.45 have5325.77 had5326.01 eating5326.41 disorders5326.73 would5327.5 have5327.74 taken5327.9 this5328.3 and5328.54 they've5328.62 said5328.94 so,5329.18 and5329.82 it5330.14 will5330.3 be5330.54 on5330.7 you5330.94 if5331.58 you5331.74 pass5331.9 this5332.22 bill,5332.46 if5333.18 young5333.42 people5333.66 with5333.9 anorexia5334.22 and5334.7 other5334.78 eating5335.02 disorders5335.26 end5335.82 up5335.98 ending5336.22 their5336.62 lives5336.86 and5337.5 getting5337.66 rid5337.82 of5337.98 decades5338.3 of5338.7 their5338.86 lives5339.1 because5339.34 of5339.66 it.5339.74
5339.98 SPEAKER15339.98 -5339.98 Thank5339.98 you.5340.22 I'm5341.5 going5341.74 to5341.98 recognize5342.06 my5342.63 colleague,5342.86 representative5343.19 Phillips.5343.9 I5344.1 just5344.31 wanna5344.55 remind5344.78 folks,5345.1 I5345.43 think5345.51 it's5345.66 really5345.98 important5346.31 that5346.78 people5346.86 read5347.19 the5347.35 bill.5347.43 The5348.7 intent5348.94 to5349.35 commit5349.51 suicide5349.82 and5350.78 eating5350.86 disorders5351.27 do5351.82 not5351.98 qualify5352.23 anyone5352.86 in5353.59 Massachusetts5353.82 under5354.55 the5354.78
5360.75 at5360.75 this5360.99 time,5361.15 I5361.47 wanna5361.63 recognize5362.11 and5362.59 I'm5362.83 sorry.5362.99 That's5363.23 just5363.39 a5363.55 rule5363.63 for5363.79 anyone5363.95 unless5364.27 you're5364.59 sitting5364.75 here.5365.15 At5366.27 this5366.43 time,5366.59 I5366.83 wanna5366.99 recognize5367.31 representative5367.79 Phillips.5368.57
5368.82 SPEAKER205368.82 -5368.82 Thank5368.82 you.5368.9
5369.45 SPEAKER375369.45 -5369.45 Thank5369.45 you5369.61 very5369.78 much,5369.94 chair5370.41 Decker,5370.66 chair5370.98 Trisco,5371.14 members5371.53 of5371.78 the5371.94 committee.5372.02 Thank5372.9 you5373.06 very5373.22 much5373.45 for5373.78 hearing5374.26 this5374.57 bill5374.74 so5375.14 early5375.3 in5375.61 the5375.7 session.5375.78 Really5376.41 grateful5376.66 that5377.14 you,5377.3 put5378.02 it5378.26 up.5378.34 I5379.94 want5380.02 to5380.26 address,5380.41 that5381.06 previous5381.22 point5381.61 as5381.78 well.5381.94 As5383.14 somebody5383.3 who5383.7 works5383.78 very5384.02 closely5384.3 with5384.62 Samaritans,5384.7 in5385.5 the5385.66 House5385.74 of5385.9 Representatives,5386.06 and5387.02 is5387.18 their5387.42 champion,5388.46 during5389.74 budget5389.98 season5390.22 and5390.54 things5390.62 like5390.86 that,5390.94 I5391.1 can5391.26 emphatically5391.82 say5392.46 that5392.78 this5393.02 bill5393.18 has5393.42 nothing5393.5 to5393.82 do5393.9 with5394.06 suicide.5394.22 This5395.42 bill5395.66 is5395.98 for5396.22 a5396.54 very,5396.78 very5397.76 specific5398.15 set5398.64 of5398.8 patients5398.88 who5399.99 are5400.31 facing,5400.64 unimaginable5402.55 pain5403.19 at5403.91 the5404.15 end5404.23 of5404.31 their5404.47 life.5404.64 This5406.15 is5406.47 for5406.64 people5406.95 who5407.91 know5409.19 that5409.43 there5409.68 is5409.91 no5410.88 hope5411.11 of5411.35 recovery.5411.51 This5413.35 bill5413.73 was5413.97 first,5414.13 was5415.01 first5415.25 requested5415.49 to5416.53 my5416.77 predecessor,5417.01 representative5418.29 Lou5418.77 Kafka5418.93 that5419.65 he5419.89 file5420.05 it,5420.29 it5420.85 was5421.01 a5421.25 constituent5421.33 who5421.97 was5422.21 dying5422.45 from5422.77 stomach5423.09 cancer,5423.33 and5424.05 who5424.21 wanted5424.45 to5424.69 make5424.77 sure5424.93 that5425.17 everybody5425.41 else5425.81 in5426.29 the5426.45 Commonwealth.5426.61 He5427.09 knew5427.17 that5427.33 he5427.49 wasn't5427.57 gonna5427.81 be5428.13 able5428.29 to5428.53 take5428.61 advantage5429.09 of5429.49 this5429.63 bill,5429.94 but5430.25 he5430.56 wanted5430.87 to5431.18 make5431.49 sure5431.8 that5432.11 everybody5432.42 else5432.73 had5433.04 the5433.35 choice5433.66 and5433.97 the5434.28 control5434.59 at5434.9 the5435.21 end5435.52 of5435.83 their5436.14 life,5436.45 to5437.07 be5437.38 able5437.69 to5438 make5438.31 those5438.62 decisions5438.94 for5439.24 themselves.5439.56 We5440.18 have5440.49 endeavored5440.8 to5441.11 provide5441.42 that.5441.73 We5442.35 have5442.66 also,5442.97 made5443.59 sure5443.75 that5443.99 we5444.59 heard5445.19 from5445.43 all5445.75 of5445.99 these,5446.07 all5447.19 the5447.43 groups,5447.59 that5448.39 had5448.55 an5448.71 objection5448.87 to5449.35 the5449.47 bill,5449.59 that5449.91 had5450.15 questions5450.47 about5450.95 the5451.11 language.5451.27 We5452.07 tweaked5452.23 it5452.55 multiple5453.11 times5453.59 in5454.47 order5454.71 to5454.95 make5455.11 sure5455.27 that5455.51 that5455.75 if5456.15 passed,5456.31 this5456.71 bill5456.95 would5457.11 be5457.27 15457.43 of5457.59 the5457.75 most,5457.83 actually5458.15 the5458.55 most5458.71 restrictive5459.48 bill5460.11 in5460.35 the5460.51 country.5460.59 We5462.19 now5462.44 have5462.68 almost5463.8 decades5464.11 or5464.68 excuse5464.99 me,5465.4 we5465.55 do5465.72 have5465.88 decades5466.03 of5466.35 data5466.51 from5467.23 other5467.4 states,5467.64 that5468.19 have5468.35 passed5468.51 this5468.76 that5468.99 says5469.15 that5469.4 this5469.55 is5469.8 not5469.95 being5470.44 abused.5470.68 We5471.95 know5472.11 that5472.35 if5472.76 we5472.91 brought5473.25 it5473.57 to5473.65 Massachusetts,5473.81 it5475.65 would5475.81 not,5475.97 be5476.85 the5477.09 slippery5477.25 slope5477.65 that5477.97 some5478.05 people5478.29 claim.5478.45 So,5478.85 I5479.73 am5479.89 very,5479.97 very5480.21 grateful,5480.45 that5481.17 you5481.41 are5481.57 looking5482.05 at5482.29 this5482.45 bill5482.61 so5482.93 early5483.09 in5483.41 the5483.49 session.5483.57 We5484.61 are5484.77 hopeful,5485.01 because5485.73 the5486.05 language5486.21 hasn't5486.61 changed.5486.85 There5487.57 is5487.81 going5488.05 to5488.29 be5488.37 the5488.53 same5488.61 result,5488.77 from5489.68 the5489.84 joint5490.07 committee,5490.32 which5490.64 is5490.8 a5490.95 favorable5491.11 report.5491.6 And5492.07 I'm5492.24 happy5492.32 to5492.48 answer5492.64 any5492.88 questions5493.03 you5493.36 might5493.44 have.5493.6
5497.36 SPEAKER15497.36 -5497.36 Thank5497.36 you,5497.52 representative.5497.76 At5499.44 this5499.6 time?5499.76 K.5501.95 Thank5502.11 you.5502.27
5502.67 SPEAKER45502.67 -5502.67 Thank5502.67 you,5502.83
5502.99 SPEAKER345502.99 -5502.99 madam5502.99 chair.5503.23
5504.03 SPEAKER15504.03 -5504.03 At5504.03 this5504.19 time,5504.35 I5504.59 wanna5504.75 welcome5504.99 by5505.55 way5505.79 of5506.11 Teams,5506.27 Mike5507.79 Mossbrucker.5508.35
5513.23 Okay.5513.23 Mike5513.55 is5513.87 not5514.03 on5514.19 Teams.5514.43 Oh,5515.38 is5517.05 sorry.5517.22 We5517.61 did5517.77 that.5517.94 At5519.77 this5519.94 time,5520.18 I5520.65 will5520.81 welcome,5521.3 Frances5522.34 Hogan5523.05 by5523.69 way5523.94 of5524.09 Teams5524.18 from5526.09 the5526.26 Massachusetts5526.49 Catholic5527.14 Conference.5527.69
5529.22 SPEAKER385529.22 -5529.22 Yes.5529.22 Can5529.53 you5529.69 hear5529.85 me?5530.09
5534.38 Can5534.38 you5534.62 hear5534.78 me?5535.02
5535.42 SPEAKER15535.42 -5535.42 We5535.42 can5535.58 hear5535.74 you,5535.98 and5536.14 we5536.3 can5536.46 see5536.62 you.5536.78 Welcome.5536.94
5537.66 SPEAKER385537.66 -5537.66 Oh,5537.66 excellent.5538.14 Thank5538.7 you.5538.94 Good5539.66 morning,5539.9 chairs5540.94 Decker5541.26 and5541.58 Driscoll5541.74 and5542.14 members5542.22 of5542.62 the5542.7 committee.5542.86 My5543.59 name5543.74 is5543.9 Fran5544.06 Hogan,5544.47 and5544.86 for5545.02 many5545.19 years,5545.43 I5545.74 have5545.9 served5546.06 as5546.3 a5546.47 board5546.63 member5546.86 of5547.34 the5547.51 Massachusetts5547.66 Catholic5548.47 Conference,5549.02 which5549.98 represents5550.3 the5550.78 archdiocese5550.94 of5551.82 Boston5551.98 and5552.78 the5552.94 diocese5553.1 of5553.66 Fall5553.9 River,5554.23 Springfield,5554.63 and5555.34 Worcester.5555.51 I5556.51 thank5556.67 you5556.75 for5556.99 the5557.23 opportunity5557.47 to5558.11 testify5558.35 briefly5558.83 on5559.31 behalf5559.47 of5559.79 the5559.87 conference5560.03 in5560.91 opposition5561.07 to5561.63 these5561.79 25562.11 bills.5562.27 As5563.39 you5563.55 are5563.71 aware,5563.87 the5564.59 bills5564.75 under5565.07 consideration5565.39 would5566.27 allow5566.43 a5566.83 patient5566.91 to5567.39 be5567.55 prescribed5567.79 a5568.59 lethal5568.75 dose5569.15 of5569.39 drugs5569.55 to5570.38 end5570.53 his5570.77 or5571.09 her5571.26 life5571.41 after5571.98 meeting5572.22 certain5572.61 criteria.5573.02 The5574.3 Catholic5574.53 church5574.94 has5575.41 always5575.73 strongly5576.05 opposed5576.61 physician5577.09 assisted5577.57 suicide5578.05 and5579.18 continues5579.41 to5580.14 uphold5580.38 the5580.77 dignity5580.94 of5581.41 every5581.65 single5582.14 human5582.61 life.5583.09 The5583.98 church5584.14 teaches5584.54 that5584.86 life5585.1 itself5585.42 is5585.9 a5586.06 gift5586.22 from5586.54 God5586.86 and5587.42 should5587.58 be5587.82 nurtured5588.06 and5588.46 cared5588.7 for5589.02 until5589.26 natural5589.66 death,5590.14 not5590.94 a5591.18 death5591.26 chosen5591.66 because5592.06 of5592.3 a5592.46 medical5592.62 diagnosis5593.1 or5593.74 other5593.98 reasons.5594.22 It5595.58 is5595.74 the5595.9 church's5596.06 view5596.54 that5596.86 a5597.02 truly5597.18 compassionate5597.74 society5598.54 should5599.49 work5599.81 to5599.98 prevent5600.22 suicide5600.61 at5601.18 all5601.41 stages5601.73 of5602.14 life.5602.3 We,5603.09 like5603.34 many5603.57 other5603.81 faith5604.06 communities,5604.38 as5605.18 well5605.34 as5605.49 a5605.65 variety5605.81 of5606.22 organizations5606.45 and5607.09 doctors5607.34 and5607.73 nurses,5607.9 are5608.69 called5608.85 upon5609.09 to5609.49 comfort5609.65 the5609.98 sick5610.22 in5610.53 the5610.69 dying5610.85 process5611.26 and5612.17 understanding5612.49 the5612.97 huge5613.21 physical5613.77 and5614.25 emotional5614.49 toll5614.97 on5615.69 families5615.93 to5616.81 be5616.97 compassionate5617.21 and5617.85 available5618.01 to5618.49 help5618.65 both5618.89 the5619.21 dying5619.37 person5619.69 and5620.41 their5620.65 families5620.89 in5621.37 every5621.69 possible5622.01 way.5622.57 These5624.45 25624.69 bills5624.93 have5625.16 several5625.41 flaws5625.81 that5626.13 others5626.28 have5626.6 mentioned5626.77 and5627.09 probably5627.24 will5627.73 mention.5627.97 For5628.77 example,5629.01 the5629.48 often5629.73 misdiagnosed5630.05 65631.16 months5631.41 to5631.73 live5631.89 criteria5632.13 are5633.24 the5633.41 risk5633.48 of5633.73 undue5633.89 influence5634.36 by5634.85 someone5635.01 who5635.32 may5635.56 benefit5635.73 financially5636.2 from5637.09 the5637.32 death5637.48 of5637.73 a5637.89 vulnerable5638.05 individual5638.69 who5639.32 feels5639.48 he5640.26 or5640.58 she5640.66 is5640.9 a5641.14 burden5641.22 to5641.62 loved5641.78 ones.5642.02 Finally,5643.38 however,5643.94 rather5644.26 than5644.58 focus5644.66 on5644.98 the5645.14 bill's5645.22 flaws,5645.62 I5645.86 would5646.1 like5646.18 to5646.34 bring5646.5 to5646.74 the5646.9 committee's5646.98 attention5647.54 the5648.26 positions5648.42 of5648.82 25649.06 prominent5649.22 national5649.86 medical5650.34 organizations.5650.9 The5652.27 National5652.59 Hospice5652.91 and5653.47 Palliative5653.8 Care5654.44 Organization5654.76 came5655.8 out5655.88 in5656.11 strong5656.35 opposition5656.91 to5657.47 physician5657.72 assisted5658.19 suicide5658.59 stating5659.47 in5659.95 part,5660.11 in5660.76 light5660.99 of5661.23 the5661.4 under5661.64 use5661.88 of5662.19 hospice5662.35 and5662.76 palliative5662.99 care5663.64 to5664.19 alleviate5664.44 suffering,5665.07 lack5665.93 of5666.17 comprehensive5666.41 health5667.21 care5667.53 for5667.93 persons5668.17 with5668.57 serious5668.81 illness,5669.37 concerns5670.25 of5670.73 disabilities5670.97 rights5671.85 advocates5672.33 regarding5673.21 protections5673.69 from5674.17 coercion,5674.49 long5675.53 standing5675.85 racial5676.33 bias5676.81 in5677.21 medicine,5677.45 disparities5678.41 in5679.13 health5679.37 and5679.61 medical5679.77 care,5680.33 and5680.81 lack5681.05 of5681.2 protections5681.45 to5682.09 ensure5682.32 voluntary5682.89 participation,5683.6 the5684.73 organization5684.97 opposes5685.52 legally5686.16 accelerated5686.97 death5687.69 as5688.01 a5688.16 societal5688.32 option.5688.97 In5689.93 January5690.09 of5690.56 23,5690.65 the5691.2 National5691.36 Alzheimer's5691.85 Association5692.56 severed5693.59 the5693.91 ties5694.07 with5694.47 compassion5694.71 and5695.19 choices5695.35 stating5696.15 that5696.63 the5696.79 values5696.95 of5697.35 compassion5697.59 and5698.07 choices5698.15 are5698.87 inconsistent5699.11 with5699.75 those5699.91 of5700.23 the5700.39 Association.5700.63 Concluding,5702.31 the5703.11 Massachusetts5703.35 Catholic5704.07 Conference5704.63 believes5705.11 that5705.43 the5705.59 legislation5705.75 should5706.39 focus5706.55 on5706.87 ways5707.03 to5707.69 provide5707.85 quality,5708.4 palliative5709.05 care5709.6 to5709.93 the5710.09 sick5710.24 and5710.4 dying,5710.56 particularly5711.28 the5711.77 undeserved,5712.09 disabled,5713.77 poor,5714.73 and5715.13 minority5715.36 communities.5715.93 I5717.05 ask5717.2 this5717.44 committee5717.69 not5718.16 to5718.32 act5718.48 favorable5718.73 on5719.28 these5719.44 25719.6 bills5719.85 before5720.09 you,5720.4 and5720.56 I5720.81 thank5720.97 you5721.13 for5721.28 your5721.52 time.5721.69
5723.36 SPEAKER15723.36 -5723.36 Thank5723.36 you.5723.68 At5725.04 this5725.28 time,5725.44 I5726 by5726.32 way5726.48 of5726.72 teams,5726.88 I5727.2 would5727.36 welcome5727.6 Jack5728 Edmondson,5728.4 and5730.72 we5730.96 are5731.28 told5731.68 he5731.92 is5732.08 not5732.24 on.5732.56 Okay.5733.2 At5733.6 this5733.84 time,5734 in5734.64 person,5734.88 I5735.36 welcome5735.6 Stephen5736.16 Helfer.5736.48
5757.64 SPEAKER395757.64 -5757.64 Can5757.64 you5757.88 hear5758.04 me?5758.28
5761 I5761 guess5761.24 you5761.48 can.5761.72 Thank5763 you.5763.32 My5764.93 name5765.09 is5765.32 Stephen5765.56 Helfer.5765.97 I5766.85 live5767.01 in5767.24 Cambridge.5767.48 I5768.77 strongly5769.01 oppose5769.56 physician5770.28 assisted5770.85 suicide.5771.48 Proponents5773.65 say5774.28 this5774.52 bill5774.77 is5775.01 limited5775.4 to5775.97 persons5776.13 with5776.6 a5776.93 terminal5777.32 diagnosis.5778.2 In5780.46 reality,5780.7 however,5781.34 we5782.38 all5782.7 have5783.02 a5783.26 terminal5783.42 diagnosis.5784.06 So5785.58 anyone5785.9 eventually5786.7 would5788.54 and5788.94 could5789.26 be5789.5 eligible.5789.82 For5791.9 20005792.22 years,5793.18 the5794.35 Hippocratic5794.59 oath5795.31 has5796.03 enjoined5796.35 physicians5797.15 quote,5797.95 to5798.91 give5799.15 no5799.48 deadly5799.88 medicine5800.44 when5800.99 asked5801.31 nor5802.44 suggest5802.76 any5803.88 such5804.27 counsel,5804.68 end5805.64 of5805.88 quote.5806.03 I5807.53 respectfully5807.85 believe5808.73 physicians5810.01 who5810.73 turn5810.97 their5811.29 backs5811.45 on5812.57 this5812.81 ethical5813.21 tradition5814.01 do5815.45 neither5816.65 society5817.21 or5818.65 their5818.97 profession5819.21 of5820.17 service.5820.41 My5822.73 brother-in-law5823.05 a5823.94 few5824.09 years5824.34 ago5824.65 died5825.05 from5825.45 cancer5825.69 after5827.22 35827.61 months5827.94 of5828.57 extreme5828.9 discomfort.5829.45 My5831.61 sister5831.94 selflessly5832.57 ministered5833.85 to5834.49 him.5834.65 If5836.73 a5837.05 less5837.13 burdensome,5837.77 less5839.69 painful,5840.17 and5841.21 less5841.45 costly5841.93 death5843.21 had5843.85 been5844.09 held5844.41 up5844.89 to5845.21 him5845.37 in5846.01 the5846.17 form5846.33 of5847.21 physician5847.45 assisted5849.06 suicide,5849.78 this5851.15 would5851.39 in5851.78 fact5851.94 have5852.74 been5853.06 tacit5853.39 coercion5855.06 despite5856.98 the5857.86 putative5858.1 safeguards.5859.39 I5861.07 again5861.23 ask5861.79 you5862.59 not5862.67 to5862.99 forward5863.23 either5863.71 of5863.95 these5864.19 bills.5865.15 Thank5865.39 you.5865.63
5867.31 SPEAKER15867.31 -5867.31 Thank5867.31 you.5867.63 At5869.15 this5869.39 time,5869.63 I5870.03 welcome5870.19 John5870.75 Gatto5871.07 by5871.63 way5871.87 of5872.03 teams.5872.19
5879.91 SPEAKER405879.91 -5879.91 Hello.5879.91 Sorry.5880.31 Had5880.8 a5880.95 little5881.03 trouble5881.35 there.5881.59
5882.8 SPEAKER15882.8 -5882.8 Welcome.5882.8
5884.15 SPEAKER405884.15 -5884.15 Thanks.5884.15 Thanks5884.55 for5884.8 having5885.03 me.5885.35 My5885.99 name5886.15 is5886.31 John5886.48 Gatto.5886.72 I5887.11 live5887.19 in5887.44 Rockport.5887.59 I've5889.55 been5889.87 a5890.19 social5890.43 worker5890.75 for5891.15 a5891.63 long5891.79 time.5892.03 I've5892.67 run5892.91 programs5893.15 with5893.63 with5894.03 AIDS,5894.11 cancer,5894.67 all5895.55 sorts5895.79 of5896.03 life5896.19 threatening5896.43 illnesses,5896.83 but5897.39 really5898.03 wanted5898.27 to5898.67 share5898.75 a5898.91 personal5899.07 story5899.55 of,5900.19 my5900.99 husband,5901.15 Art5901.79 Shirk,5902.03 who5903.05 in5903.52 02/20145903.84 was5905.05 diagnosed5905.36 with5905.93 idiopathic5906.24 pulmonary5907.05 fibrosis,5907.76 the5908.73 multiple,5908.89 which5909.84 basically5910.01 means5910.48 his5910.97 lungs5911.28 filled5911.69 with5912.01 scar5912.24 tissue5912.56 over5912.97 the5913.2 course5913.28 of5913.6 35913.84 years5914.09 to5914.48 the5914.73 point5914.89 where,5915.2 you5915.96 know,5916.12 the5916.92 blood5917.24 no5917.56 longer5917.72 transfers5918.2 oxygen.5918.76 It's5920.28 sort5920.6 of5920.76 like5920.92 a5921.08 long5921.24 slow5921.56 suffocation.5922.04 It's5922.92 a5923.08 horrible5923.24 disease5924.04 like5924.44 so5924.68 many5924.92 other5925.16 stories5925.4 you5925.8 you've5926.04 heard5926.28 today.5926.52 Art5928.06 was5928.22 not5928.38 a5928.69 fearful5928.85 man.5929.34 He5929.57 was5929.81 wildly5930.22 courageous5931.1 and5931.65 enthusiastic.5932.06 He5933.1 took5934.45 up5934.61 the5934.85 trapeze5935.18 at5935.81 50.5936.06 He5936.85 was5937.49 diagnosed5937.73 with5938.3 heart5938.53 disease,5938.69 and5939.02 we5939.18 went5939.34 hiking5939.65 the5939.98 Inca5940.14 Trail.5940.53 Fear5940.94 wasn't5941.26 something5941.65 that5941.98 ran5942.14 his5942.45 life.5942.61 The5943.96 15944.12 fear5944.36 he5944.76 had5945 was5945.64 at5946.36 the5946.52 time5946.6 of5946.84 his5947 diagnosis5947.32 that5948.04 he5948.28 would5948.44 have5949.08 a5949.32 prolonged,5949.56 death5951.16 that5952.04 was5952.44 beyond5952.84 any5953.24 pain5953.48 he5953.88 should5954.04 have5954.36 to5954.6 know.5954.76 And5955.64 in5956.77 in5957.34 order5957.41 to,5957.81 well,5958.45 actually,5958.7 what5958.94 I5959.1 wanted5959.18 to5959.49 do5959.66 is5959.73 speak5959.9 to5960.14 what5960.3 the5960.53 absence5960.7 of5961.18 medical5961.34 aid5961.73 in5962.06 dying5962.22 looked5962.61 like5962.85 for5963.18 us.5963.49 Because5964.61 he5965.02 was5965.26 scared5965.73 of5966.22 this5966.38 needless5966.77 suffering,5967.26 he5968.71 had5969.27 friends5969.51 gather5969.99 helium5970.47 tanks5971.03 from5971.43 all5971.67 over5971.83 the5972.07 country5972.23 that5973.19 he5973.43 stockpiled5973.91 somewhere5974.63 in5975.03 our5975.27 house.5975.43 He5976.47 obtained5976.71 lethal5977.59 drugs5978.15 from5978.71 other5978.95 countries.5979.35 And5980.55 because5980.95 he5981.43 feared5981.67 that5982.07 I5982.23 could5982.47 be5982.71 held5982.87 criminally5983.38 responsible5984.01 for5984.49 his5984.73 death,5985.05 he5985.77 concealed5986.65 them5987.05 from5987.3 me5987.53 and,5987.77 got5989.53 to5989.77 a5989.94 point5990.01 where5990.34 he5990.65 said5990.81 he5991.22 he5991.69 felt5991.94 like5992.18 the5992.41 time5992.57 was5992.9 coming,5993.14 but5993.94 he5994.18 would5994.34 not5994.49 tell5994.81 me5995.05 when5995.85 or5996.26 how5996.57 it5996.9 was5997.05 gonna5997.22 happen5997.53 to5997.94 protect5998.09 me.5998.57 And6000.2 I6000.6 I6000.76 mean,6000.84 imagine6001.08 if6001.56 you6001.72 could,6001.88 the6002.44 idea6002.6 of6003.08 coming6003.24 home6003.64 to6003.96 find6004.2 your6004.44 loved6005.32 16005.64 under6006.04 a6006.44 a6006.92 homemade6007 helium6007.56 tank6008.12 dead6009.24 at6009.48 the6009.64 kitchen6009.8 table.6010.2 It's6010.68 not6011 a6011.32 death6011.56 that6011.88 anybody6012.12 should6013.22 encounter6013.45 or6014.1 a6014.41 loved6014.57 16014.81 should6015.14 have6015.45 to6015.77 endure.6016.26 In6017.38 the6017.61 end,6017.77 ultimately,6018.02 his6018.73 disease6019.06 claimed6019.53 his6019.94 death6020.18 before6020.57 he6021.14 had6021.38 to6021.53 implement6022.34 either6022.98 of6023.3 these6023.45 plans6023.77 for6024.18 which6024.34 I'm6024.66 deeply6025.3 grateful.6025.7 And6026.41 while6027.69 it6027.93 was6028.33 a6028.57 burden6028.73 to6029.05 care6029.29 for6029.53 him,6029.69 let6030.25 me6030.49 just6030.65 say6030.81 it's6031.05 a6031.21 burden6031.45 I6032.01 would6032.17 welcome6032.41 every6034.01 day6034.41 that6034.89 I6035.21 have6035.37 lived6035.61 since6035.93 his6036.25 death.6036.49 This6037.69 is6037.93 not6038.17 about6038.41 a6038.73 way6038.81 out6039.05 for6039.37 for6040.01 for6041.27 caregivers.6041.51 And6042.78 I6043.19 I6043.74 personally6043.82 believe6044.3 that,6044.63 you6044.78 know,6044.86 dignity6045.19 human6046.06 dignity6046.39 supersedes6047.19 religious,6048.7 political,6049.27 social6049.74 beliefs.6050.23 And6050.55 if6050.7 we6050.86 really6051.1 believe6051.43 in6051.82 death6051.98 with6052.3 a6052.7 life6052.86 with6053.1 dignity,6053.34 we6054.14 can't6054.38 have6054.54 life6055.18 with6055.58 dignity6055.74 without6056.22 death6056.62 with6056.94 dignity.6057.1 So6057.74 thank6058.3 you.6058.54
6060.46 SPEAKER16060.46 -6060.46 Thank6060.46 you.6060.86 At6062.14 this6062.38 time,6062.54 I'd6062.78 like6063.02 to6063.26 welcome6063.34 Melissa6063.82 Stacy,6064.46 who's6064.86 here6065.18 in6065.42 person.6065.5
6078.7 SPEAKER156078.7 -6078.7 Good6078.7 morning,6078.85 Chairman6079.26 Driscoll,6079.74 Chairwoman6080.22 Decker,6080.88 members6081.52 of6081.76 the6081.92 Joint6082 Committee6082.32 on6082.64 Public6082.8 Health.6083.12 Thank6084.24 you6084.4 for6084.64 the6084.72 opportunity6084.88 to6085.44 testify6085.68 in6086.24 support6086.48 of6087.12 S14866087.36 H25-five,6088.96 an6090.88 act6091.04 relative6091.28 to6091.68 end6091.92 of6092.08 life6092.16 options.6092.56 I'd6093.94 like6094.19 to6094.26 thank6094.34 the6094.74 committee6094.9 chairs6095.22 for6095.63 scheduling6095.78 an6096.34 early6096.59 hearing6096.82 on6097.22 these6097.39 bills6097.63 this6097.94 session6098.1 and6098.82 also6099.06 for6099.47 moving6099.78 the6100.1 bill6100.26 out6100.66 of6100.9 committee6101.06 favorably6101.47 last6102.02 year.6102.26 My6103.7 name6103.86 is6104.02 Melissa6104.19 Stacy6104.66 and6104.98 I'm6105.15 the6105.3 Regional6105.39 Advocacy6105.86 Director6106.59 for6106.98 Compassion6107.15 and6107.63 Choices6107.78 Action6108.19 Network6108.51 here6108.9 in6109.14 Massachusetts.6109.3 I'd6110.98 like6111.22 to6111.34 take6111.46 a6111.7 minute6111.86 as6112.1 I6112.26 begin6112.42 to6112.66 recognize6112.9 that6113.3 Doctor.6113.54 Roger6113.78 Kligler,6114.18 a6114.66 subject6114.82 matter6115.14 expert6115.54 and6115.86 advocate,6116.1 isn't6116.58 joining6116.9 us6117.3 today.6117.54 His6118.42 health6118.66 prevents6118.9 him6119.22 from6119.38 testifying6119.62 even6120.34 virtually.6120.66 His6121.38 voice6121.62 is6121.86 missed6122.16 and6122.4 his6122.56 absence6122.81 underlies6123.28 the6123.84 urgency6124.09 of6124.56 our6124.73 request6124.89 to6125.28 authorize6125.52 medical6126.01 aid6126.32 in6126.48 dying6126.65 in6126.97 Massachusetts.6127.13 This6129.05 legislation6129.36 includes6130.01 strict6130.4 eligibility6130.89 criteria6131.6 and6132.32 practice6132.56 requirements6133.05 to6133.69 ensure6133.84 the6134.16 highest6134.32 standard6134.73 of6135.09 care.6135.33 Individuals6136.37 must6137.25 be6137.57 an6137.81 adult6138.05 resident6138.37 of6138.69 Massachusetts.6138.93 They6139.89 must6140.05 be6140.29 terminally6140.45 ill6140.93 with6141.17 a6141.49 66141.57 month6141.81 or6142.05 less6142.21 to6142.45 live,6142.61 be6143.49 capable6143.73 of6144.21 making6144.37 an6144.69 informed6144.85 decision,6145.41 and6146.21 be6146.45 able6146.61 to6146.85 self6147.09 ingest6147.33 the6147.73 medication.6147.89 This6149.17 option6149.41 is6149.98 not6150.22 taken6150.38 lightly,6150.85 and6151.73 many6151.98 safeguards6152.38 in6152.85 place6153.02 ensure6153.34 that6153.73 the6153.9 decision6154.14 has6154.53 not6154.77 been6155.02 made6155.26 in6155.49 haste.6155.65 There6156.77 is6156.94 a6157.18 stringent6157.34 process6157.9 in6158.38 place6158.53 that6158.94 must6159.18 be6159.34 followed6159.49 in6159.9 order6160.06 to6160.3 be6160.45 eligible6160.61 to6161.1 request6161.26 and6161.81 receive6162.06 medication6162.53 under6163.1 this6163.34 law.6163.65 The6164.82 legislation6165.06 is6165.62 optional6165.86 for6166.42 all6166.58 involved,6166.82 patients6167.54 and6167.94 providers6168.1 alike.6168.74 116169.86 US6170.34 jurisdictions6170.66 have6171.38 authorized6171.62 this6172.1 end6172.34 of6172.58 life6172.66 option,6172.98 and6173.3 the6173.54 data6173.7 from6174.02 those6174.26 states6174.5 show6175.06 that6175.38 the6175.62 process6175.78 and6176.18 safeguards6176.34 work.6177.14 We6178.34 know6178.57 from6178.73 consistent6179.69 polling6180.09 that6180.49 Massachusetts6180.73 voters6181.38 overwhelmingly6182.01 support6182.9 terminally6183.3 ill6183.69 patients6183.93 having6184.34 this6184.65 choice.6184.97 Beacon6185.85 Research6186.26 poll6186.73 from6186.97 March6187.3 of6187.53 236187.69 found6188.26 that6188.49 73%6188.81 of6189.77 Massachusetts6190.01 polls,6190.81 voters6191.53 polled6191.85 believe6192.33 that6192.73 medical6192.97 aid6193.29 in6193.45 dying6193.61 should6194.01 be6194.17 an6194.41 option6194.57 for6194.89 terminally6195.05 ill6195.53 patients.6195.77 And6196.73 after6196.89 learning6197.21 about6197.53 the6197.77 safeguards6197.93 built6198.57 into6198.89 the6199.13 bill,6199.29 that6199.69 support6200.09 increased6200.65 to6201.21 79%.6201.53 Many6204.7 of6204.94 us6205.02 have6205.18 stood6205.41 by6205.66 the6205.82 bedside6205.98 of6206.45 those6206.53 we6206.78 love6206.94 watching6207.26 them6207.57 suffer6207.82 uncontrollably.6208.22 Today6209.98 is6210.3 the6210.53 second6210.7 anniversary6211.1 of6211.66 my6211.82 dad's6211.98 death.6212.3 Due6214.06 to6214.3 an6214.45 injury6214.61 in6215.02 his6215.18 30s6215.34 and6215.74 compounded6215.98 by6216.45 an6216.61 experimental6216.86 surgery6217.49 gone6217.98 wrong,6218.22 he6218.94 was6219.1 disabled6219.41 and6220.15 lived6220.39 with6220.47 pain6220.87 every6221.27 day.6221.59 While6222.87 he6223.19 wouldn't6223.43 have6223.75 qualified6223.99 for6224.55 medical6224.71 aid6225.11 in6225.27 dying6225.43 at6225.83 the6225.91 end,6226.07 he6226.47 was6226.63 in6226.87 hospice6227.11 care.6227.59 His6228.55 team6228.87 was6229.11 incredible,6229.35 loving6230.31 and6230.71 kind,6230.87 but6231.43 they6231.67 couldn't6231.91 get6232.39 him6232.63 completely6233.06 comfortable.6233.45 At6234.98 the6235.22 end,6235.38 those6235.77 sedated,6236.09 his6236.81 limbs6237.06 jumped6237.45 and6237.85 he6238.09 was6238.18 grimacing6238.41 in6238.98 pain.6239.14 Hospice6240.65 and6241.14 palliative6241.38 care6241.85 are6242.18 incredible6242.41 programs,6243.22 but6243.69 they6243.85 cannot6244.09 control6244.57 suffering6245.06 for6245.53 all6245.77 patients6246.09 all6246.57 the6246.81 time.6246.98
6249.69 Percentage6249.69 of6250.17 Massachusetts6250.33 residents6250.97 will6251.37 request6251.61 medical6252.09 aid6252.49 in6252.65 dying,6252.89 for6253.61 those6253.85 that6254.09 do6254.25 and6254.57 are6254.81 eligible,6254.97 having6255.61 access6256.01 to6256.41 this6256.57 option6256.73 would6257.13 bring6257.29 peace6257.61 of6257.85 mind.6258.01 Peace6258.89 of6259.21 mind6259.29 that6259.61 would6259.85 give6260.01 them6260.25 the6260.49 ability6260.57 to6261.13 focus6261.21 to6261.47
6267.3 testify6267.3 and6268.43 for6268.66 moving6268.82 the6269.15 bill6269.3 forward.6269.55 Thank6270.34 you.6270.59
6270.82 SPEAKER16270.82 -6270.82 Thank6270.82 you.6270.98 At6272.59 this6272.74 time,6272.98 I6273.47 would6273.7 welcome6273.94 Myrna6274.66 Maloney6275.22 Flynn,6275.96 president6276.76 of6277.16 Mass6277.32 Citizens6277.56 for6278.04 Life6278.2 to6278.6 join6278.76 us6278.92 by6279.08 way6279.32 of,6279.48 teams.6280.04
6284.28 SPEAKER416284.28 -6284.28 Good6284.28 morning.6284.44 Can6284.76 you6285 hear6285.08 me?6285.24
6285.64 SPEAKER16285.64 -6285.64 Good6285.64 morning.6285.8 We6286.12 can6286.28 hear6286.44 you.6286.6 Welcome.6286.84
6288.04 SPEAKER416288.04 -6288.04 Great.6288.04 Thank6288.36 you.6288.6 Here6289.35 are6289.59 36289.76 truths6289.91 of6290.8 doctor6291.03 prescribed6291.44 suicide6291.91 as6292.48 presented6292.72 in6293.03 20226293.27 by6294.4 Fitchburg6294.64 Resident6295.19 Doctor6295.68 Mark6296.07 Rollo,6296.31 a6297.03 lifelong6297.19 family6297.91 physician.6298.31 Doctor6299.27 Rollo6299.59 passed6299.99 away6300.23 suddenly6300.55 a6301.03 few6301.19 months6301.35 after6301.76 sharing6302.07 his6302.48 remarks.6302.72 It6303.73 is6303.81 on6304.05 his6304.29 behalf6304.61 that6305.25 I6305.49 request6305.65 that6306.13 you6306.37 keep6306.53 assisted6306.85 suicide6307.25 out6308.21 of6308.37 our6308.45 homes.6308.61 Truth6309.73 number6310.13 1,6310.45 doctor6311.17 prescribed6311.49 suicide6311.97 damages6312.45 trust6313.01 in6313.41 doctors.6313.73 A6314.53 physician6314.61 cannot6315.25 be6315.57 both6315.81 healer6316.13 and6316.85 killer6317.17 and6318.09 still6318.32 maintain6318.65 a6319.2 patient's6319.44 trust.6319.84 Truth6321.05 number6321.28 2,6321.52 doctor6321.84 prescribed6322.16 suicide6322.65 is6323.52 dangerous.6323.76 Doctors6325.05 make6325.44 mistakes6325.68 in6326.32 diagnosis6326.48 and6327.36 prognosis.6327.6 Just6328.72 look6328.97 at6329.13 Stephen6329.28 Hawking,6329.6 the6330.09 famous6330.32 astrophysicist6330.8 who6331.96 discovered6332.2 black6332.6 holes.6332.84 He6333.48 was6333.72 diagnosed6333.88 at6334.36 age6334.52 216334.76 with6335.32 Lou6335.64 Gehrig's6335.8 disease6336.28 and6336.84 was6337.24 given6337.4 just6337.72 a6337.88 few6337.96 years6338.12 to6338.44 live.6338.6 In6339.4 actuality,6339.64 he6340.28 lived6340.44 about6340.76 506341.08 years6341.4 after6341.96 his6342.52 initial6342.76 prognosis.6343.4 Doctor6345.05 prescribed6345.36 suicide6345.84 is6346.56 a6346.81 recipe6346.97 for6347.52 elder6347.69 abuse.6348.09 DPS6349.44 is6350.09 also6350.24 dangerous6350.56 because6351.05 it6351.36 puts6351.52 a6351.77 price6351.93 tag6352.24 on6352.48 life.6352.65 Required6353.69 witnesses6354.09 could6354.81 have6355.05 a6355.28 variety6355.44 of6355.93 opportunistic6356.24 interests6357.05 in6357.84 the6358.09 patient's6358.24 death6358.73 And6359.47 government6359.71 payers6360.11 like6360.67 Medicare,6360.99 Medicaid,6361.87 along6362.43 with6362.75 private6362.99 insurers6363.31 have6363.79 significant6364.03 financial6364.67 incentives6365.23 to6366.19 approve6366.35 doctor6367.07 prescribed6367.39 suicide6367.95 because6368.51 it's6368.67 far6368.91 cheaper6369.15 than6369.87 disease6370.03 treatments.6370.43 There6371.49 are6371.66 many6371.81 examples6372.14 of6372.61 cancer6372.77 patients6373.1 in6373.57 states6373.73 like6374.06 Oregon6374.22 who6374.94 received6375.1 letters6375.57 from6376.22 their6376.45 insurance6376.69 companies6377.1 or6377.49 their6377.66 state's6377.9 health6378.22 plan6378.53 denying6379.26 them6379.73 further6379.9 cancer6380.3 treatment6380.69 but6381.1 approving6381.34 inexpensive6381.98 doctor6382.69 prescribed6383.1 suicide6383.49 instead.6384.06 In6385.45 California6385.69 in6386.25 2016,6386.49 just6387.69 a6387.93 week6388.09 after6388.41 it6388.73 passed6388.97 assisted6389.37 suicide,6389.77 a6390.57 woman6390.73 with6391.13 46391.37 children6391.53 at6391.93 the6392.09 age6392.17 of6392.41 336392.49 named6393.05 Stephanie6393.37 Packer6393.85 learned6394.65 that6395.13 her6395.37 private6395.61 insurance6396.01 company6396.41 would6396.81 no6397.05 longer6397.21 pay6397.53 for6397.69 her6397.85 chemo,6398.09 but6398.85 with6399.18 a6399.26 co6399.49 pay6399.65 of6399.9 just6400.05 a6400.3 dollar6400.45 and6400.69 20¢,6400.85 Stephanie6401.98 could6402.45 obtain6402.69 drugs6403.09 to6403.57 kill6403.65 herself.6403.98 She6405.26 not6405.49 only6405.73 survived6406.05 for6406.77 more6407.02 than6407.18 a6407.34 decade6407.49 and6407.98 and6408.3 still6408.45 testifies6408.77 actually6409.41 currently6409.73 in6410.3 various6410.45 states6410.77 across6411.09 the6411.41 nation6411.57 against6412.3 assisted6413.13 suicide.6413.45 She6414.09 testified6414.33 before6415.21 this6415.61 very6415.93 legislature6416.25 in6417.13 opposition6417.37 to6418.01 DPS.6418.17 And6419.93 finally,6420.09 DPS6420.73 is6421.37 dangerous6421.53 because6422.17 patients6422.57 can6423.45 come6423.61 to6423.85 feel6424.01 pressure6424.33 from6424.89 organizations6425.13 like6425.85 Compassionate6426.17 Choices6426.81 and6427.77 from6428.01 societal6428.32 pressure6428.81 as6429.52 DPS6429.85 becomes6430.48 more6431.13 accepted.6431.6 Finally,6433.52 it6433.93 corrupts6434.16 the6434.65 medical6434.73 profession6435.13 because6435.69 it6436.09 is6436.24 legalized6436.4 fraud.6437.05 Doctors6437.93 are6438.4 prevented6438.56 from6439.13 listing6439.36 suicide6439.93 as6440.61 the6440.77 cause6441.01 of6441.09 death6441.33 on6441.73 a6441.89 patient's6442.05 death6442.45 certificate.6442.93 Instead,6443.89 doctors6444.45 are6444.77 required6444.93 to6445.33 lie6445.49 and6446.13 list6446.37 the6446.61 patient's6446.77 underlying6447.41 diagnosis6447.97 as6448.93 the6449.09 cause6449.25 of6449.49 death.6449.57 So6450.53 once6450.77 you6451.01 realize,6451.25 excuse6453.19 me,6453.51 once6453.74 you6453.98 legalize6454.31 doctor6454.94 prescribed6455.35 suicide,6455.82 it6456.78 becomes6456.94 a6457.51 medical6457.66 procedure6458.15 and6458.55 a6458.78 cheap6458.94 16459.19 at6459.43 that.6459.59 It6460.23 conceals6460.63 the6461.19 truth,6461.35 stains6462.31 the6462.78 medical6462.86 profession,6463.35 and6463.82 betrays6463.98 hope.6464.55 It6464.94 is6465.1 not6465.27 compassion.6465.59 It6466.66 is6466.82 abandonment.6467.06 Thank6468.1 you6468.34 for6468.5 opposing6468.74 this6469.14 bill6469.3 and6470.1 for6470.26 supporting6470.5 love6471.14 and6471.54 pain6471.86 management,6472.1 and6473.54 thank6473.78 you6473.94 for6474.18 advancing6474.5 excellence6475.3 in6475.78 patient6475.86 care6476.26 that6476.5 is6476.74 good,6476.98 true,6477.86 and6478.6 beautiful6478.84 even6479.4 through6479.72 life's6479.8 greatest6480.44 challenges.6480.91
6481.95 SPEAKER16481.95 -6481.95 Great.6481.95 Thank6482.27 you.6482.44 At6483.64 this6483.88 time,6484.11 I'm6484.6 going6484.76 to6485.16 welcome,6485.48 by6486.35 way6486.52 of,6486.76 no,6487.95 in6488.2 person,6488.44 Barbara6489.56 Weatherspoon.6490.11
6508.15 SPEAKER426508.15 -6508.15 Good6508.15 morning.6508.47
6513.19 So6513.19 thank6513.35 you6513.68 to6514.8 all6515.03 of6515.27 the6515.44 board6515.59 members6515.91 and6516.95 the6518.07 co6518.31 chairs,6518.55 representative6519.68 Decker6520.64 and6521.19 senator6521.59 Driscoll.6522.23 Thank6524.18 you6524.42 for6524.66 this6524.82 opportunity.6525.06 It's6526.5 the6526.66 first6526.82 time6526.98 I've6527.22 been6527.46 here6527.62 and6528.26 the6528.5 first6528.58 time6528.82 I've6529.06 had6529.22 an6529.38 opportunity6529.62 of6530.42 doing6530.58 this.6530.9 My6531.54 name6531.78 is6531.94 Barbara6532.18 Weatherspoon,6532.58 and6533.14 I6533.3 live6533.46 in6533.62 Plymouth,6533.78 Massachusetts.6534.26 My6535.81 husband,6536.05 Lee,6536.52 was6537.01 forced6537.16 to6537.48 uproot6537.73 his6538.13 life6538.28 away6539.09 from6539.41 my6539.65 family6539.81 and6540.28 friends6540.45 and6540.85 establish6541.16 residency6541.89 in6542.6 California6542.85 where6543.97 death6544.36 with6544.6 dignity6544.77 is6545.41 legal6545.65 because6546.28 medical6546.69 aid6547.24 in6547.65 dying6547.81 is6548.65 not6548.89 an6548.97 option6549.21 for6549.69 terminally6549.85 ill6550.97 patients6551.29 in6551.77 our6551.93 state.6552.25 In6553.21 02/2014,6553.45 Lee6554.65 was6554.89 diagnosed6555.13 with6556.33 with6556.81 pulmonary6557.13 fibrosis,6557.85 a6558.97 terminal6559.05 illness6559.69 most6560.25 likely6560.49 caused6561.05 from6562.01 his6562.25 work6562.41 in6562.73 the6562.98 steel6563.22 mills6563.39 as6563.94 a6564.1 teen.6564.18 In6565.7 02/2018,6565.94 he6567.22 started6567.55 having6567.94 excruciating6568.59 pain6569.39 in6569.86 his6570.02 back6570.26 and6570.9 was6571.15 also6571.39 diagnosed6571.78 with6572.43 severe6572.74 osteoporosis,6573.47 sobriety6575.16 fractured6575.8 36576.36 vertebrae6576.68 in6578.12 16578.36 year,6578.6 just6579.32 coughing.6579.72 As6581.08 Lee's6581.4 condition6581.8 worsened,6582.36 we6582.84 sold6583.08 our6583.4 home6584.28 that6584.6 he6584.84 had6585.08 built6585.32 in6586.2 New6586.36 Hampshire6586.6 and6587.48 moved6587.72 into6588.04 our6588.52 son's6588.68 home6589.08 in6589.32 Plymouth.6589.48 Lee6591.14 rapidly6591.38 started6592.1 feeling6592.49 worse.6592.9 He6593.53 knew6593.69 that6593.94 California6594.26 had6594.98 recently6595.22 passed6595.77 the6596.57 end6596.81 of6596.98 life6597.14 options6597.45 act,6598.02 and6598.49 he6598.73 knew6598.9 this6599.14 was6599.38 his6599.61 best6599.85 option.6600.26 Devastated6601.45 to6602.18 leave6602.34 our6602.65 family,6602.81 we6603.62 became6603.94 California6604.42 residents6605.06 in6605.54 02/2019,6605.86 and6607.38 Lee6607.62 enrolled6607.86 into6608.42 a6608.82 hospice6609.06 support6609.62 program.6610.1 By6611.22 January6611.46 2020,6612.1 he6612.74 had6612.82 lost6613.06 more6613.38 than6613.54 206613.78 pounds,6614.18 was6614.98 very6615.22 weak6615.54 and6615.78 in6616.02 severe6616.18 pain6616.66 with6617.3 little6617.31 reprieve6617.33 for6617.34 medications.6617.35 It6617.37 was6617.38 shortly6617.39 after6617.41 he6617.42 started6617.43 going6617.45 through6617.46 the6617.78
6632.64 to6632.64 died,6634.47 he6634.79 called6635.03 each6635.43 of6635.75 our6635.91 76636.15 children6636.47 and6637.51 every6637.83 close6638.15 friend6638.47 to6638.79 thank6638.95 them6639.19 for6639.35 their6639.59 love6639.83 and6640.07 care.6640.23 On6641.35 February6641.67 29,6642.35 Lee6643.03 had6643.27 chosen6643.43 26643.91 songs6644.23 to6644.71 dance6644.87 with6645.27 me,6645.43 after6646.07 which6646.39 he6646.71 laid6646.87 down6647.11 on6647.43 our6647.67 bed6647.83 in6648.47 my6648.71 arms.6648.95 He6649.98 drank6650.3 his6650.55 medications,6650.86 and6651.74 he6651.98 died6652.22 very6652.55 peacefully.6652.86 How6654.3 I6654.55 wish6654.7 I6654.94 could6655.02 have6655.26 had6655.43 this6655.66 experience6655.98 in6656.86 Massachusetts,6657.1 where6658.7 most6659.02 of6659.26 our6659.34 family6659.59 and6660.06 friends6660.22 could6660.7 have6660.94 been6661.1 with6661.26 him.6661.51 I6662.8 got6662.88 to6663.2 hold6663.36 Lee6663.68 for6663.92 the6664.08 last6664.24 hour6664.56 of6665.04 his6665.2 life.6665.52
6669.84 I6669.84 got6670.16 to6670.4 tell6670.56 him6670.88 how6671.36 much6671.6 I6671.84 loved6672.08 him.6672.4
6675.99 And6675.99 I6676.31 got6676.48 to6676.64 see6676.8 the6677.11 complete6677.27 peace6677.84 in6679.03 his6679.27 eyes6679.52 during6680.88 his6681.19 last6681.44 moments.6681.84 Don't6683.52 we6683.84 all6683.99 want6684.31 that6684.64 gift?6684.88
6687.6 Thank6687.6 you.6688
6691.12 SPEAKER136691.12 -6691.12 Thank6691.12 you.6691.44
6695.44 SPEAKER16695.44 -6695.44 This6695.44 time,6695.76 I6696.32 wanna6696.48 welcome6696.88 and6697.6 see6697.76 whether6698 or6698.32 not6698.4 Erica6698.64 Garcia6699.04 is6699.76 on6700.16 Teams.6700.4
6705.05 We6705.05 don't6705.2 think6705.44 Erica6705.68 is6706.09 on6706.32 Teams.6706.56 So6707.93 I'm6708.16 going6708.4 to6708.56 move6708.8 to6709.13 doctor6709.6 John6710.16 Barravecchio.6711.28
6724.82 SPEAKER436724.82 -6724.82 Good6724.82 morning.6725.06 I6726.41 especially6726.49 greet6727.3 my6727.7 senator,6728.18 mister6728.66 Driscoll.6729.14 We've6729.85 talked6730.1 about6730.41 this6730.66 before.6731.06
6733.94 I'm6733.94 a6734.1 primary6734.26 care6734.74 physician6735.06 practicing6735.77 in6736.26 the6736.41 Commonwealth6736.49 since6737.06 19826737.45 in6738.34 multiple6738.57 settings.6739.14 Physicians6740.51 are6740.91 well6741.07 aware6741.31 of6741.55 their6741.71 inability6741.95 to6742.59 make6742.67 prognostic6743.07 predictions6743.95 about6744.59 a6744.83 patient's6744.99 life6745.47 expectancy.6745.79 Everyone6747.07 has6747.55 known6747.71 someone6748.03 who's6748.35 been6748.59 given6748.75 a6749.07 short6749.23 prognosis6749.55 and6750.59 has6750.67 nevertheless6750.91 far6751.63 outlived6751.87 it.6752.35 Individual6753.15 patients6753.79 may6754.35 not6754.59 fully6754.82 fit6755.47 the6755.7 categories6755.94 of6756.51 the6756.66 studies6756.74 in6757.15 the6757.31 literature6757.39 and6758.35 may6758.59 be6758.82 falsely6758.98 given6759.47 of6759.78 short6760.1 prognosis.6760.43 Indeed,6761.63 the6762.43 majority6762.66 of6763.15 hospice6763.39 patients6763.86 outlive6764.98 the6765.47 66765.7 month6765.94 expectancy6766.98 prognosis6767.78 and6768.91 and6769.14 may6769.38 survive6769.54 much6770.02 longer.6770.34 I6771.86 will6772.02 show6772.26 you6772.5 an6772.58 article6772.9 from6773.86 the6774.18 Patriot6774.34 Ledger,6774.82 Life6776.02 is6776.34 Beautiful,6776.58 about6777.78 a6778.1 hundred6778.26 year6778.5 old6778.66 woman6778.9 who6779.94 was6780.1 who's6780.5 writing6780.82 her6781.22 life6781.46 story6781.78 about6782.91 having6783.07 had6783.31 a6783.48 heart6783.64 attack6783.88 in6784.19 early6784.44 nineties6784.76 and6785.23 being6785.4 placed6785.72 in6786.03 hospice6786.27 because6787.07 she6787.4 was6787.64 not6787.72 expected6788.03 to6788.52 survive.6788.68 She6789.88 might6790.11 have6790.27 been6790.44 induced6790.59 to6790.99 end6791.15 her6791.31 life6791.56 because6791.88 of6792.11 a6792.35 poor6792.44 prognosis.6792.76 A6794.44 BMJ6794.52 article6795.23 analyzing6796.27 256796.91 years6797.56 of6797.88 Oregon6798.11 death6798.36 Death6798.81 with6798.97 Dignity6799.21 Act6799.77 found6800.49 that6800.73 it6800.89 was6800.97 impossible6801.37 to6802.17 make6802.25 a6802.49 sound6802.65 evaluation6802.97 because6804.25 of6804.57 lack6804.81 of6805.05 substantive6805.29 data6806.01 and6806.81 failure6807.05 to6807.45 collect6807.69 data.6808.17 Safeguards6809.61 touted6810.33 in6810.73 this6810.81 bill6811.13 are6811.45 unlikely6811.69 to6812.25 be6812.41 maintained6813.13 as6814.35 evidenced6814.59 by6815.15 constant6815.48 chipping6815.95 away6816.44 at6816.84 similar6816.99 provisions6817.48 in6818.27 other6818.52 states6818.84 once6819.72 this6820.11 practice6820.44 is6820.91 permitted.6821.15 What6822.59 patients6822.91 most6823.4 need6823.72 is6824.44 the6824.59 commitment6824.76 of6825.31 the6825.4 medical6825.55 community6826.03 and6827.23 the6827.4 state6827.64 to6828.52 offer6828.76 effective6829.15 palliative6829.81 care6830.29 with6831.01 a6831.25 human6831.33 touch.6831.73 Research6832.69 indicates6833.25 that6833.89 requests6834.21 for6834.69 physician6834.85 assisted6835.41 suicide6835.73 are6837.09 unlikely6837.33 to6837.97 persist6838.13 if6839.01 compassionate6839.41 supportive6840.29 care6840.85 is6841.17 given.6841.33 What6842.74 is6842.99 most6843.15 critically6843.55 needed6843.95 is6844.43 physician6844.74 training6845.31 in,6845.7 support6846.51 of,6846.91 and6847.55 expansion6847.86 of6848.91 consultative6849.23 availability6850.02 in6850.74 palliative6850.99 care.6851.55 The6852.59 AMA,6852.91 the6854.27 American6854.82 College6855.39 of6855.7 Physicians,6855.86 and6856.51 the6856.74 World6856.91 Medical6857.23 Association,6859 large6859.08 physician6859.4 organizations6859.88 oppose6861.32 physician6861.88 assisted6862.44 suicide.6862.92 Rather6864.44 than6864.84 pass6865.16 this6865.48 bill6865.72 under6866.04 the6866.28 aegis6866.52 of6866.92 options,6867.16 I6868.28 would6868.44 hope6868.6 that6868.84 the6869.08 Commonwealth6869.24 would6869.88 find6870.12 the6870.36 means6870.44 to6871.32 truly6871.56 support6872.2 the6872.52 availability6872.6 of6873.72 better6874.03 options6874.44 for6874.91 all6875.16 our6875.32 communities.6875.56 I've6876.68 submitted,6876.99 more6878.11 expansive6879.8 written6880.6 testimony.6880.99 Thank6882.11 you6882.44 all.6882.68
6884.03 SPEAKER16884.03 -6884.03 Thank6884.03 you.6884.28
6887.06 This6887.06 time,6887.22 I'd6887.54 welcome,6887.7 Simon6888.66 Rabgayal.6889.38 And6890.58 if6890.74 I6890.9 have6890.98 not6891.14 said6891.3 your6891.54 name6891.62 correctly,6891.86 please6892.34 do6892.66 correct6892.98 me.6893.22
6902.34 R6902.34 a6902.66 p6902.98 g6903.38 y6903.61 a6903.85 l.6904.02 There's6904.49 a6904.66 sign.6904.81 K.6905.53
6908.41 Simon,6908.41 are6908.81 you6908.98 with6909.14 us6909.3 on6909.53 Teams?6909.7
6920.03 Simon,6920.03 we6920.59 know6920.75 that6920.91 you're6921.07 phoning6921.31 in,6921.71 so6921.87 your6922.11 name6922.35 won't6922.75 show6922.99 up6923.31 on6923.47 Teams.6923.79 We're6924.19 just6924.51 trying6924.75 to6924.99 see6925.15 if6925.31 you6925.39 are6925.55 there6925.79 with6926.03 us.6926.27
6935.48 Okay.6935.48 We6935.89 will6936.05 try6936.36 to6936.68 circle6936.84 back6937.24 to6937.65 you,6937.8 Simon.6938.05 At6940.2 this6940.36 time,6940.6 we6941.09 welcome6941.32 Kurt6941.97 Selle.6942.36
6946.88 Kurt?6946.88 Okay.6949.2 Eric6950.24 Ruby.6950.72
6971.93 SPEAKER446971.93 -6971.93 Chairwoman6971.93 Decker,6972.65 chairman6974.25 Driscoll,6974.81 and6975.37 committee6975.61 members,6976.09 thank6977.21 you6977.45 for6977.61 this6977.77 opportunity6978.09 to6978.81 testify6978.97 in6979.69 support6980.01 of6981.05 the6981.29 end6981.45 of6981.61 life6981.77 options6982.09 act.6982.65 My6983.73 name6984.05 is6984.22 doctor6984.38 Eric6984.85 Ruby.6985.09 I6985.65 am6985.81 recently6986.05 retired6986.53 from6987.01 practicing6987.26 medicine6987.81 in6988.69 Taunton6988.93 for6989.34 more6989.49 than6989.65 46989.97 decades.6990.3 I6991.41 am6991.57 a6991.73 member6991.81 of6991.97 the6992.14 American6992.3 Academy6992.77 of6993.18 Pediatrics,6993.34 the6993.97 Massachusetts6994.14 Medical6994.85 Society,6995.26 and6996.05 the6996.3 AMA.6996.53 This6997.84 is6998.16 the6998.32 sixth6998.56 time6998.96 I6999.92 have7000.08 given7000.24 testimony7000.64 in7001.28 support7001.52 of7002.08 medical7002.32 aid7002.72 in7002.96 dying.7003.12 I7004.16 am7004.32 gratified7004.64 to7005.36 say7005.52 that7005.84 I've7006.08 seen7006.32 tremendous7006.64 growth7007.36 in7007.76 the7007.92 understanding7008.16 and7008.88 attitude7009.2 towards7010.08 end7010.48 of7010.72 life7010.88 care7011.16 by7011.48 voters7011.65 and7012.44 my7012.69 colleagues,7012.93 notably7013.73 increased7014.36 support7014.85 for7015.48 medical7015.65 aid7016.13 in7016.36 dying.7016.52 73%7017.65 of7018.77 Massachusetts7019.01 residents7019.73 support7020.28 medical7020.77 aid7021.16 in7021.32 dying.7021.48 A7022.36 2,0177022.52 MMS7024.1 members7024.74 confirmed7025.78 62%7026.74 supported7027.78 medical7028.26 aid7028.74 in7028.98 dying7029.14 for7029.62 terminally7029.78 ill7030.42 patients.7030.74 Nationwide7031.94 surveys7032.82 of7033.3 US7033.78 Physicians7033.86 demonstrate7034.5 a7035.06 clear7035.14 and7035.38 consistent7035.54 change.7036.26 From7037.46 02/20107037.91 to7038.63 02/2020,7038.86 support7040.06 for7040.55 medical7040.7 aid7041.02 in7041.35 dying7041.43 rose7041.82 from7042.23 467042.55 to7043.27 55%.7043.51 At7045.27 the7045.43 same7045.59 time,7045.91 opposition7046.31 decreased7047.1 from7047.59 417047.82 to7048.39 28%.7048.55 In7050.4 Massachusetts,7050.64 end7051.44 of7051.6 life7051.76 continuing7052.32 medical7052.8 education7053.28 has7054.8 become7054.96 mandatory7055.52 for7056.24 licensure.7056.48 Medical7057.44 schools7057.92 are7058.32 integrating7058.56 end7059.28 of7059.44 life7059.6 courses7060 into7060.4 standard7060.8 medical7061.36 education.7061.84 Since7063.23 December7063.55 2017,7064.39 the7065.23 Massachusetts7065.4 Medical7066.19 Society7066.68 adopted7067.72 a7068.03 position7068.19 of7068.68 neutral7068.91 engagement.7069.47 The7070.84 AMA's7071.15 council7071.8 on7072.35 ethical7072.51 and7072.91 judicial7073.15 affairs7073.72 affirmed7074.59 in7075.15 its7075.31 code7075.55 of7075.8 medical7075.95 ethics7076.35 that7077.15 physicians7077.4 who7077.88 practice7078.11 medical7078.72 aid7079.04 in7079.2 dying7079.44 are7079.84 not7080.08 violating7080.72 their7081.68 professional7082 ethics7082.56 or7083.04 standards.7083.28 I7084.32 quote,7084.64 supporters7085.84 and7086.32 opponents7086.56 share7087.2 a7087.52 fundamental7087.6 commitment7088.32 to7088.72 values7088.96 of7089.36 care,7089.6 compassion,7090.16 respect,7090.88 and7091.28 dignity.7091.44 I7092.59 have7092.74 had7092.98 487093.06 years7093.7 of7094.1 professional7094.27 experience7094.98 with7095.86 death7096.1 and7096.34 dying7096.59 and7096.9 17097.15 very7097.47 tragic7097.86 personal7098.51 experience.7098.98 It's7100.19 taking7100.51 me7100.82 too7101.06 long7101.23 to7101.47 die.7101.63 These7102.59 were7102.74 the7102.98 words7103.06 of7103.39 my7103.63 father,7103.78 a7104.27 dignified,7104.43 proud,7105.15 and7105.55 respected7105.78 physician7106.34 who7106.98 had7107.32 metastatic7107.4 prostate7108.2 cancer.7108.76 After7109.8 a7110.04 month7110.2 in7110.44 hospice,7110.6 a7111.24 307111.32 pound7111.72 weight7112.36 loss,7112.68 black7113.32 and7113.56 blue7113.72 marks7114.04 all7114.36 over7114.68 his7114.84 body,7115.08 and7115.72 crying7115.96 in7116.36 pain7116.52 daily7116.84 when7117.16 he7117.4 was7117.56 not7117.72 sedated7117.96 to7118.6 an7118.76 almost7119 comatose7119.4 state.7120.04 He7120.68 died7120.92 in7121.16 307121.4 days7121.64 as7121.96 he7122.12 predicted.7122.36 Esteemed7123.56 members7123.97 of7124.28 this7124.44 committee,7124.69 the7125.48 time7125.65 to7125.97 act7126.13 is7126.44 now.7127.32 The7127.4 people7127.65 are7128.05 with7128.28 you.7128.52 Doctors7129.24 are7129.73 with7129.97 you.7130.13 Terminally7130.69 ill7131.32 patients7131.65 are7132.13 begging7132.36 you.7132.76 Please7133.56 support7133.89 the7134.2 Massachusetts7134.44 end7135.16 of7135.32 life7135.48 options7135.8 act.7136.2 Support7137.12 choice7137.6 and7138 autonomy7138.4 at7139.28 the7139.52 end7139.6 of7139.84 life.7140 Who7140.88 does7141.12 not7141.44 want7141.68 a7142.16 peaceful7142.4 death?7142.96 Thank7144.16 you.7144.4
7146.24 SPEAKER17146.24 -7146.24 Thank7146.24 you.7146.48 At7147.76 this7147.92 time,7148.08 I'd7148.4 like7148.56 to7148.8 welcome7148.88 my7149.28 colleague7149.44 representative7149.84 O'Day.7150.48
7164.43 SPEAKER457164.43 -7164.43 Thanks.7164.43 Good7164.84
7168.6 SPEAKER467168.6 -7168.6 morning.7168.6
7171.16 Thank7171.16 you7171.48 very7171.64 much7171.96 for,7172.2 taking7172.76 me7173.08 out7173.32 of7173.48 turn,7173.64 madam7174.04 chair.7174.44 Mister7175.48 chair,7175.88 members7176.28 of7176.68 the7176.76 committee,7176.92 appreciate7177.4 that7178.04 very7178.44 much.7178.85 And7179.97 I7180.2 am7180.36 here7180.52 today7180.77 to7181.16 speak7181.24 specifically7182.05 on7183.16 the7184.36 end7184.6 of7184.77 life7185.01 options7185.48 bill,7186.05 that7188.36 we're7188.6 here7188.85 for7189.16 this7189.48 this7189.81 morning.7190.13 I7191.82 have7192.06 the7192.38 great7192.54 honor7192.86 of7193.26 being7193.34 the,7193.66 lead7195.02 sponsor7195.5 of7195.9 this7196.06 bill,7196.3 and7197.1 I7197.34 will7197.5 do7197.74 my7197.9 best7198.14 not7198.46 to7198.7 be7198.86 redundant.7199.1 I'm7199.66 sure7199.9 you've7200.14 heard7200.46 from,7200.78 other7202.38 testifiers7202.7 over7203.58 the7203.82 last7203.98 hour7204.3 or7204.62 so,7204.7 27205.1 hours.7205.26 But7206.85 this7207.09 is7207.32 really7207.49 for7207.81 me7207.97 a7208.2 very7208.36 straightforward7208.77 and7210.28 very7211.09 common7212.05 sense7212.45 piece7212.93 of7213.16 legislation.7213.41 This7214.93 is7215.16 about7215.41 quality7215.81 of7216.2 life.7216.36 This7217.16 is7217.41 about7217.56 choice.7217.97 And7219.13 this7219.29 is7219.53 about7220.33 trying7220.41 to7220.89 avoid7221.13 horrific7221.69 pain7222.33 and7223.69 discomfort7224.01 at7225.05 the7225.21 end7225.37 of7225.61 one's7225.85 life.7226.25 I7227.77 know7227.93 that7228.25 this7228.49 is7228.73 a7228.89 topic7229.13 that7229.77 many7230.17 people7230.49 shudder7232.59 to7232.98 talk7233.15 about,7233.39 but7234.27 guess7234.59 what?7234.82 Everyone7235.63 in7237.06 this7237.23 room7237.47 is7238.02 gonna7238.19 have7238.51 an7238.74 end7238.9 of7239.06 life,7239.15 termination7240.82 at7241.7 some7241.86 point7242.1 in7242.34 time.7242.51 This7243.31 bill7243.63 really7243.94 works7244.51 looks7244.98 towards7245.68 and7246.08 works7246.32 towards7246.72 trying7247.92 to7248.32 make7248.56 that7248.88 end7249.2 as7250.48 painless7250.72 as7251.92 possible7252.16 with7253.44 an7253.6 individual's7253.92 choice.7254.8 I7256.56 have7256.72 no7257.04 objections7257.76 to7258.24 those7258.4 who7259.04 feel7260.45 that7260.77 this7261.09 is7261.41 not7261.56 something7261.81 they7262.28 want7262.53 to7262.85 involve7263.49 themselves7263.89 with.7264.36 That's7265.01 that's7265.32 fine7265.65 with7265.97 me.7266.2 But7266.85 if7267.09 it's7267.24 something7267.41 I7268.13 as7268.28 an7268.45 individual7268.69 want7269.49 to7269.81 have7269.97 the7270.2 option,7270.36 at7271.56 the7271.73 end7271.81 of7272.05 my7272.28 life,7272.45 I'm7272.93 not7273.16 sure7273.32 that7273.73 I7273.97 I7274.2 feel7274.45 that7275.35 anyone7275.51 else's7275.99 opinion7276.63 should7277.27 address7277.75 that7278.23 issue7278.47 the7279.35 way7279.51 I7279.75 want7279.91 to7280.23 address7280.31 it.7280.63 I7281.99 many7282.47 times7282.87 cringe7283.27 when7283.75 I7284.07 hear7284.15 this,7284.39 bill7285.35 being7285.59 referred7285.91 to7286.39 as7286.55 physician's7288.74 assisted7289.3 suicide.7289.94 That7291.15 is7291.39 not7291.63 what7291.94 this7292.26 bill7292.51 does.7292.9 This7293.94 merely7294.34 gives7294.82 that7295.7 individual7295.86 at7296.59 the7296.66 end7296.82 of7296.98 their7297.15 life7297.3 an7298.34 option7298.74 to7299.78 make7300.02 a7300.26 choice.7300.43 Those7302.13 who7302.45 are7302.61 of7302.93 sound7303.25 mind,7303.65 to7304.53 make7304.69 a7304.93 choice7305.01 that7305.49 they7305.89 no7306.29 longer7306.53 want7307.01 to7307.33 live,7307.49 in7308.93 a7309.17 way7309.25 that7309.41 is7309.73 completely7309.97 alien7311.09 to7311.57 how7311.73 they7311.97 used7312.21 to7312.61 live.7312.69 And7313.78 how7313.94 I7314.26 really7314.34 became7314.74 involved7315.14 with7315.53 this,7315.7 effort7316.49 was7317.14 my7317.38 own7317.53 dad.7317.78 He7318.57 was7318.74 a7318.98 tough7319.22 character,7320.26 former7321.38 Worcester7321.78 police7322.18 sergeant7322.49 who7323.45 lived7323.78 life7324.18 to7324.74 its7324.9 fullest.7325.22 And7326.47 at7326.63 the7326.87 end7326.95 of7327.19 his7327.27 life,7327.59 there7327.83 was7328.07 no7328.23 reasonable,7330.39 similarities7331.03 to7331.83 the7331.99 person7332.15 that7332.47 was7332.63 in7332.87 in7333.59 that7333.75 hospital7333.99 bed7334.63 to7335.27 the7335.43 guy7335.67 that7335.83 I7336.07 knew7336.23 and7336.47 respected7336.71 and7337.19 spent7337.43 a7337.75 lot7337.83 of7337.99 quality7338.15 time7338.63 with.7338.87 And7339.67 17340.6 of7340.76 these7340.84 conversations7341.72 that7342.28 I7342.52 had7342.6 over7342.84 the7342.99 years7343.16 with7343.4 dad7343.64 was7344.28 that7344.44 he7344.68 wanted7344.91 to7345.24 make7345.32 sure7345.48 that7346.2 he7346.52 wasn't7346.68 going7347.07 to7347.4 die,7347.64 at7348.99 an7349.24 extended7349.48 period7350.11 of7350.52 time7350.68 in7351.4 misery.7351.56 He7352.65 expected7353.21 me7353.53 to7353.77 take7353.93 care7354.09 of7354.33 that7354.41 for7354.65 him.7354.89 I7355.29 wasn't7355.37 sure7355.69 how7356.33 I7356.57 was7356.89 gonna7357.13 do7357.37 that.7357.61 There7358.01 wasn't7358.17 a7358.49 way7358.57 for7358.81 me7358.97 to7359.13 do7359.29 that,7359.45 but7360.25 this7360.49 bill7360.73 allows7361.29 those7361.77 who7362.09 wanna7362.25 make7362.65 that7362.81 decision7363.05 to7364.01 have7364.17 that7364.41 opportunity.7364.65 And7365.82 and7366.07 I7366.23 know7366.39 my7366.55 time7366.7 is7366.95 up7367.1 and7367.35 I7367.66 appreciate7367.82 the7368.39 offer.7368.55 I7369.03 really7369.19 appreciate7369.59 the7369.99 committee's7370.15 willingness7371.1 to7371.91 bring7372.07 this7372.31 bill7372.55 so7372.78 forward7373.99 so7374.7 early7374.95 in7375.27 our7375.43 session,7375.66 giving7376.63 us7376.86 the7377.1 opportunity7377.27 to7377.91 really7378.15 speak7378.84 to7379.08 it.7379.16 Thank7379.64 you7379.88 very7380.12 much.7380.36
7381.8 SPEAKER17381.8 -7381.8 Thank7381.8 you,7382.04 representative.7382.28 Thanks.7383.64 At7384.92 this7385.08 time,7385.24 I7385.48 would7385.64 like7385.8 to7386.04 welcome7386.2 Michael7386.6 Martinetti.7387
7391.22 Somebody7391.22 go7391.45 help7391.53 move7391.94 the7392.18 chairs7392.34 out7392.66 of7392.9 there.7393.15
7406.86 SPEAKER297406.86 -7406.86 Thank7406.86 you.7407.26 You're7407.5 welcome.7407.74
7412.86 SPEAKER457412.86 -7412.86 Good7412.86 to7413.1 see7413.26 you7413.5 again.7413.66 Been7415.58 a7415.82 year,7415.98 a7416.78 little7417.34 less,7419.11 but7419.99 it's7420.72 gonna7420.95 be7421.35 a7421.6 good7421.76 year.7422.07 So7423.68 I7424.31 hope.7424.56 So,7425.44 forgive7426.95 me7427.35 for7427.76 reading,7428.07 but7428.56
7438.02 Okay.7438.02 So7438.34 you've7438.74 heard7438.98 plenty7439.38 of7439.94 testimony7440.1 since7441.86 this7442.42 bill7442.58 was7442.98 first7443.38 filed7443.78 by7444.18 Rep7444.5 Kafka.7444.9 And7446.9 now7447.22 by7447.45 Rep.7448.9 Phillips7449.22 behind7450.57 me7450.9 and7451.22 Rep.7451.69 O'Day,7452.09 who7453.3 you7453.77 just7454.01 heard7454.41 from7454.73 and7455.14 Senator7455.3 Comfort,7455.85 of7457.22 how7457.45 mass7457.77 residents7458.09 have7458.9 needlessly7459.38 suffered7460.41 in7460.98 the7461.22 last7461.38 months7461.69 of7462.09 their7462.26 lives.7462.41 I've7463.35 had7463.67 my7464.07 fair7464.39 share,7464.63 I've7465.03 told7465.35 you7465.59 over7465.83 the7466.07 years,7466.31 of7467.27 loved7467.51 ones7467.75 who7468.15 have7468.39 suffered7468.63 as7469.35 well.7469.59 But7469.91 today,7470.23 I7471.11 wanna7471.27 just7471.67 talk7471.99 about7472.15 common7472.63 sense7473.11 and7473.99 the7476.23 hope,7477.69 you7478.24 know,7478.32 the7478.57 good7478.73 feelings7479.05 that7480.41 I7480.57 have7480.81 because,7481.2 we've7483.2 explained7483.61 this7484.81 bill7484.97 to7487.13 the7487.36 residents7487.53 of7488.32 the7488.49 state,7488.81 to7489.2 legislators.7490.18 It's7491.38 I7492.34 think7492.42 we7492.66 pretty7493.54 well7493.86 vetted7494.18 it.7494.66 We7494.98 know7495.22 what7495.46 the7495.7 parameters7496.9 are.7497.62 And,7498.02
7502.34 what7502.34 I7503.22 guess,7503.46 was,7504.98 oh,7505.6 yeah.7505.76 I7505.84 wanna7506.07 talk7506.31 about7506.64 common7507.03 sense7507.44 and7508.56 ask7509.6 you7509.91 to,7510.15 like,7510.4 rep7511.44 O'Day,7511.99 to7512.8 move7513.11 this7513.52 bill7513.76 as7514.15 quickly7514.4 as7515.6 you7515.76 can7515.91 out7516.31 of7516.56 this7516.72 committee7517.03 so7517.6 that7517.84 we7520.15 can7520.31 can7520.51 get7520.67 to7520.75 a7520.83 vote7520.91 of7521.31 both7521.47 chambers.7521.79 Last7522.99 year,7523.23 the7523.55 bill7523.71 had7524.03 great7524.27 momentum.7524.59 More7526.43 co7526.91 sponsors7527.23 than7527.79 ever7528.03 are7528.35 moving7528.51 through7528.91 this7529.31 committee.7529.63 Thank7530.11 you7530.43 for7530.59 that.7530.83 And7532.03 the7532.43 joint7532.67 committee7533.07 on7533.55 health7533.79 care7534.19 find7534.43 sanctuaries7535.03 and7536.15 means7536.39 for7537.35 the7537.51 first7537.66 time7537.99 ever.7538.31 And7539.35 now7539.59 we7539.99 are7540.31 testifying7540.63 at7541.35 the7541.51 earliest7541.74 hearing7542.31 this7542.86 bill7543.66 has7543.91 ever7544.23 had.7544.55 Again,7544.95 thank7545.35 you7545.59 for7545.82 that.7545.99 We7547.35 know7547.59 that7547.91 the7547.94
7547.98 SPEAKER47547.98 -7547.98 men7547.98 momentum7548.05 continues7548.08 to7548.12 grow.7548.15
7548.19 SPEAKER457548.19 -7548.19 Just7548.19 some7548.23 positive,7548.78
7559.8 mass7559.8 residents7559.96 want7560.68 this7561 bill7561.32 passed.7561.64 You7562.52 can7562.76 look7563 at7563.24 many7563.91 polls7564.15 that7565.43 show7565.59 that.7566.07 The7567.76 Mass7567.99 Medical7568.4 Society7569.35 reaffirmed7570.23 their7571.68 stance7571.91 of7572.4 engaged7572.72 neutrality7573.59 by7575.03 a7575.19 47575.35 to7575.77 17576.01 vote.7576.17 So7576.73 that's,7576.97 you7577.29 know,7578.25 our7578.57 major7578.73 group7579.37 of7579.93 docs7580.17 in7581.21 this7581.45 state.7581.77 The7583.21 Boston7583.45 Center7584.09 for7584.49 Independent7584.73 Living,7585.53 I'm7586.33 a7586.49 member.7586.65 They7588.8 represent7589.03 50,0007589.76 mass7590.88 disabled7592.07 residents7593.19 and7594.64 they7595.11 do7595.59 not7595.84 oppose7596.39 this7596.8 bill.7597.03 Cardinal7597.99 Healy7598.55 has7598.95 indicated7599.19 that7599.91 she7600.15 is7600.47 supportive7600.8 of7601.9 the7602.22 bill7602.46 if7602.78 the7603.1 issues7603.34 and7603.9 safeguards7604.22 are7605.58 right7607.02 and7607.9 they7608.14 are7608.38 in7608.78 this7609.1 bill.7609.26 This7610.22 bill7610.46 has7610.78 more7611.02 clear7611.42 and7611.74 protective7611.9 conditions7613.34 than7614.22 any7614.62 other7615.02 similar7615.42 bill7615.98 in7616.38 the7616.54 country.7616.78 Because7619.11 we7619.84 have7620.07 a7620.31 mental7620.47 health7621.11 qualification.7622.07 Medical7624.31 aid7624.8 and7625.11 dying7625.27 bills7625.68 are7626.23 already7626.47 in7626.95 117627.19 jurisdictions.7627.68 Masks,7629.44 we7629.99 hope,7630.23 will7630.64 be7630.8 12.7631.19 For7632.08 these7632.4 reasons,7632.72 please,7633.44 we7634 ask7634.24 that7634.64 the7634.88 bill7634.96 will7635.28 move7635.36 quickly7635.76 and7636.8 favorably7637.2 out7638 of7638.32 this7638.48 committee7638.8 and7639.92 that7640.24 all7640.72 of7641.04 our7641.28 legislators7641.6 target7642.72 up7643.04 with,7643.92 all7645.4 the7645.64 colleagues.7645.88 Please7648.27 let7648.76 leadership7649.07 know7649.95 that7650.84 your7651.4 constituents7651.8 want7652.76 this7653.07 bill7653.31 and7653.64 you7653.88 want7654.11 to7654.44 vote7654.68 on7655.07 this7655.31 bill7655.55 this7656.03 session.7656.51 It's7657.85 common7658.25 sense7658.65 not7659.05 sovereign7659.45 needlessly7660.09 at7661.37 the7661.61 end7661.77 of7661.93 life.7662.17 Please7662.97 push7663.37 your7663.69 bill7663.85 forward7664.09 to7664.57 vote7664.73 this7665.05 year.7665.21 Our7665.53 time7665.85 has7666.09 come.7666.33 Thank7666.73 you7666.97 all7667.21 very7667.45
7667.77 SPEAKER207667.77 -7667.77 much.7667.77 Thank7669.69 you.7670.01 Yep.7670.73
7673.1 SPEAKER17673.1 -7673.1 Senator7673.1 Keenan,7673.59 are7674.23 you7674.39
7675.19 SPEAKER477675.19 -7675.19 No.7675.19 I'm7675.43 I'm7675.74 at7675.82 the7675.9 meeting,7675.98 but7676.23 I'm7676.39 just7676.55 thinking7676.78 Okay.7677.27 You're7677.59 here.7677.74
7680.31 SPEAKER47680.31 -7680.31 Thank7680.31 you.7680.63
7684.15 SPEAKER17684.15 -7684.15 At7684.15 this7684.31 time,7685.03 I7686.31 am7686.55 looking7686.95 at7687.35
7691.99 Fred7691.99 Pelka.7692.39 Are7693.19 you7693.35 on7693.51 the7693.59 phone,7693.75 Fred?7694.07
7703.86 Fred7703.86 Palka,7704.1 are7704.59 you7704.74 on7704.9 the7705.06 phone?7705.15
7713.54 K.7713.54 We7713.78 can't7714.02 confirm7714.34 that7714.66 Fred7714.98 is7715.22 on7715.38 the7715.62 phone,7715.78 so7716.58 we're7716.74 going7716.98 to7717.3 move7717.38 to7717.62 Dennis7718.34 Patrick7718.74 Canty.7719.22
7745.78 SPEAKER487745.78 -7745.78 Members7745.78 of7746.1 the7746.18 committee,7746.26 thank7746.66 you7746.82 for7746.98 the7747.22 opportunity7747.38 to7748.02 speak7748.18 with7749.14 you7749.38 today7749.54 in7749.78 support7750.02 of7750.34 H25057750.5 and7751.78 S1486.7752.02 An7754.23 act7754.47 relative7754.7 to7754.94 the7755.18 end7755.43 of7755.66 life7755.74 options.7756.06 My7758.23 father7758.39 was7758.7 a7758.86 lot7758.94 of7759.19 things,7759.27 hardworking,7759.66 a7760.31 provider.7760.47 He7761.02 loved7761.19 boats,7761.51 good7761.98 food,7762.23 his7762.55 family.7762.78 He7763.74 really7763.9 loved7764.23 his7764.39 grandchildren.7764.63 He7765.43 would7765.59 have7765.74 loved7765.9 getting7766.23 to7767.39 know7767.79 his7768.19 newest7768.27 granddaughter,7768.75 Ayla.7769.47 He7769.71 loved7770.07 watches.7770.43 He7770.67 studied7770.99 them,7771.15 collected7771.31 them.7771.71 I'm7772.19 wearing7772.35 17772.59 of7772.75 his7772.83 watches7772.99 today.7773.63 He7774.99 thought7775.23 a7775.55 lot7775.71 about7775.87 time,7776.19 more7776.99 so7777.23 after7777.55 he7777.87 was7777.95 diagnosed7778.27 with7778.75 ALS7778.99 in7779.55 October7779.79 of7780.19 207780.35 23.7780.67 Time7782.56 became7782.8 a7783.05 regular7783.28 topic7783.68 of7784.16 discussion7784.4 at7784.97 our7785.13 family7785.28 dinners.7785.68 How7786.4 much7786.65 time7786.8 did7787.05 he7787.28 have7787.44 left?7787.6 What7788.4 should7788.56 we7788.8 do7788.97 at7789.13 that7789.28 time?7789.52 What7790.56 happens7790.8 when7791.36 time7791.6 runs7791.76 out?7792.09 The7792.97 hardest7793.13 of7793.52 these7793.6 conversations,7794.01 what7795.2 would7795.36 this7795.87 time7795.95 look7796.11 like?7796.71 As7797.31 most7797.55 know,7797.79 ALS7798.11 is7798.51 17798.67 of7798.91 many7799.15 nervous7799.47 system7799.87 disorders7800.27 that7800.67 causes7800.91 loss7801.31 of7801.55 muscle7801.79 control.7802.11 First,7802.67 his7802.91 legs,7803.15 then7804.11 his7804.35 left7804.59 arm.7804.83 His7805.07 right7805.31 arm7805.47 started7805.79 to7806.11 go7806.19 too.7806.43 He7807.47 started7807.63 to7807.95 have7808.11 occasional7808.27 difficulty7808.83 swallowing7809.39 or7809.95 clearing7810.19 his7810.59 his7810.84 throat,7810.99 and7811.23 we7811.64 knew7811.8 time7812.03 was7812.27 running7812.51 out.7812.76 All7813.48 the7813.64 while,7813.8 he7814.11 was7814.27 fully7814.44 conscious7814.76 of7815.31 his7815.48 fate.7815.72 In7816.35 fact,7816.51 his7816.84 mind7817.07 seemed7817.4 sharper7817.8 than7818.19 ever.7818.44 For7819.8 many7820.03 ALS7820.44 patients,7820.84 the7821.23 end7821.4 is7821.55 gruesome.7821.8 Trapped7822.68 in7822.91 your7823.07 body7823.31 as7823.64 it7823.8 shuts7823.95 down.7824.19 I7824.59 remember7824.68 reading7825.07 an7825.4 article7825.48 where7826.87 some7826.95 ALS7827.67 patients7827.92 only7828.17 remaining7828.42 way7828.67 to7828.91 communicate7829.16 was7829.41 through7829.66 blinking.7829.91 And7830.19 the7830.47 hardest7830.55 part7831.59 of7831.67 ALS,7831.91 there7832.31 is7832.79 no7832.87 definitive7832.95 timeline,7833.59 months,7834.15 a7834.39 few7834.63 years,7835.51 107836.07 more,7836.39 107836.63 or7836.79 more.7837.11 In7837.99 Massachusetts,7838.31 his7838.87 options7839.03 were7839.35 limited.7839.59 He7839.91 could7840.07 voluntarily7840.23 stop7840.95 eating7841 and7841.05 drinking7841.09 and7841.14 very7841.19 slowly7841.27 and7841.53 drinking7841.7 and7842.02 very7842.26 slowly7842.41 weaken7842.81 until7843.22 he7843.45 died7843.61 or7843.85 wait7844.1 for7844.34 ALS7844.49 to7844.98 eventually7845.14 weaken7845.61 his7846.34 respiratory7846.57 system7847.22 until7847.53 fatal.7847.85 And7848.74 this7848.98 was7849.14 a7849.38 man7849.45 that7849.7 counted7849.94 hours7850.41 and7851.14 minutes7851.3 with7851.78 precision.7851.94 He7852.57 valued7852.81 time.7853.3 That7853.61 wasn't7853.85 how7854.18 he7854.49 wanted7854.57 to7855.01 spend7855.09 a7855.33 little7855.41 time7855.65 he7856.05 had7856.29 left.7856.61 Turns7857.41 out7857.73 it7857.89 wouldn't7858.05 need7858.29 to7858.53 be.7858.61 As7859.17 we7859.41 researched7859.57 end7859.97 of7860.13 life7860.29 options7860.53 for7860.85 our7861.01 father,7861.17 we7861.41 learned7861.57 that7861.81 medical7861.97 aid7862.29 in7862.45 dying7862.53 was7862.85 available7863.01 in7863.41 Vermont7863.57 for7864.13 nonresidents.7864.29 The7865.49 requirements,7865.65 onerous.7866.29 Letters7866.93 from7867.25 doctors,7867.41 27867.89 in7868.13 person7868.29 visits,7868.69 27869.01 weeks7869.25 apart.7869.52 Second7870.16 opinions,7870.56 only7871.13 17871.36 pharmacist7871.69 in7872.4 the7872.56 entire7872.73 state.7873.2 The7873.84 administration7874.01 had7874.73 to7874.97 be7875.13 in7875.28 Vermont.7875.44 We7876.01 understood7876.24 why,7876.73 but7877.28 we7877.52 wished7877.69 he7877.93 could7878.16 have7878.32 done7878.56 this7878.8 all7879.13 at7879.36 home7879.52 here7879.93 in7880.16 Massachusetts.7880.4 This7881.77 past7881.93 November7882.16 13,7882.6 my7883.05 father7883.2 self7883.52 administered7883.84
7895.17 uttered7895.17 his7895.49 last7895.81 words7896.05 to7896.37 us.7896.53 I7896.81 did7897.05 it.7897.14 I7897.94 did7898.01 it7898.18 for7898.34 you.7898.57 He7899.3 didn't7899.53 die7900.01 from7900.34 physician7900.65 assisted7901.22 suicide.7901.61 His7902.18 death7902.41 was7902.73 not7902.98 suicide.7903.22 His7903.85 final7904.18 moments7904.49 were7904.81 not7905.05 hopeless.7905.3 He7905.77 was7905.94 not7906.18 alone.7906.41 In7906.9 the7907.05 end,7907.22 it7907.53 was7907.69 his7907.85 last7908.09 act7908.49 of7909.14 free7909.22 will7909.45 after7909.85 being7910.09 robbed7910.34 of7910.73 his7910.81 bodily7910.98 autonomy.7911.58 His7912.22 death7912.46 was7912.7 hope.7912.94 For7913.58 a7913.82 tomorrow,7913.98 he7914.54 was7914.7 no7914.94 longer7915.1 promised.7915.5 In7916.54 that7916.7 moment,7916.94 he7917.5 was7917.66 grateful7917.82 to7918.38 be7918.54 able7918.62 to7918.86 control7919.1 his7919.98 time,7920.3 his7920.78 watch,7921.1 his7921.58 clock.7921.9 He7922.54 didn't7922.7 want7923.02 to7923.18 languish7923.34 or7923.82 be7923.98 in7924.06 pain.7924.3 He7924.7 didn't7924.86 want7925.18 to7925.42 put7925.6 his7925.77 family7925.94 through7926.09 the7926.26 horror7926.49 of7926.9 watching7927.05 him7927.45 waste7927.69 away.7927.94 He7928.57 took7928.73 quite7929.05 literally7929.38 time7930.02 into7930.34 his7930.65 own7930.9 hands.7931.05 I7931.77 think7931.85 of7932.09 all7932.26 the7932.41 time7932.57 I7932.9 think7933.05 all7933.38 the7933.53 time7933.61 of7933.85 those7934.02 with7934.65 terminal7934.9 illnesses7935.3 who7935.85 may7936.02 never7936.18 be7936.49 as7936.65 fortunate7936.81 as7937.45 he7937.61 was,7937.77 who7938.09 didn't7938.34 or7938.65 who7938.9 won't7939.05 get7939.4 to7939.56 be7939.72 the7939.8 chance7939.96 to7940.84 be7941 the7941.16 to7941.4 to7941.72 get7941.96 the7942.2 chance7942.36 to7942.6 be7942.76 the7942.92 keeper7943.08 of7943.32 their7943.48 own7943.64 time.7943.88 I7944.44 implore7944.6 you,7945 I7945.32 beg7945.48 of7945.64 you,7945.8 to7946.04 advance7946.2 this7946.6 legislation7946.76 forward7947.48 and7947.96 to7948.2 enact7948.36 it7948.68 as7948.92 law.7949.08 Time7949.56 is7949.88 fleeting.7950.04 Thank7950.68 you.7951
7952.36 SPEAKER137952.36 -7952.36 Thank7952.36 you.7952.68 At7953.88 this7954.04 time,7954.28 I7954.3
7954.32 SPEAKER17954.32 -7954.32 would7954.32 welcome7954.34 Teresa7954.36 Visconti.7954.61 Teresa7955.53 Visconti.7955.77
7961.22 Teresa?7961.22 Okay.7962.57
7966.41 I7966.41 will7966.57 welcome,7966.81 Richard7967.61 Stanton,7968.09 who7968.57 is7968.73 joining7968.9 us7969.3 by7969.45 way7969.61 of7969.85 Teams7970.02
7972.71 or7972.71 not.7972.95 Okay.7973.67
7976.87 Ron7976.87 Hoffman.7977.35
7980.87 Okay.7980.87 We7981.27 don't7981.43 see7981.67 Ron7981.91 on7982.23 Teams7982.39 either.7982.87 Simon7984.63 Amaya7985.27 Price.7985.91
7998.91 SPEAKER287998.91 -7998.91 Hi.7998.91 My7999.7 name7999.78 is7999.86 Simon8000.02 Amaya8000.34 Price.8000.74 Thank8001.46 you8001.62 for8001.86 allowing8002.02 me8002.34 to8002.58 testify8002.82 against8003.38 these8003.78 bills.8004.02 I've8004.66 also8004.9 submitted8005.22 written8005.62 testimony.8006.02 I'm8007.62 a8007.86 208007.94 year8008.26 old8008.42 lifelong8008.82 resident8009.22 of8009.62 Boston.8009.78 I8010.26 received8010.34 my8010.74 bachelor's8010.9 degree8011.38 from8011.78 Berkeley8011.94 College8012.27 of8012.43 Music8012.66 last8012.82 December8013.15 with8013.47 additional8013.63 coursework8014.02 at8014.43 Harvard8014.59 University8014.91 in8015.47 statistics.8015.63 I8016.74 have8016.91 lost8017.06 28017.31 friends8017.47 to8017.78 suicide.8017.95 A8018.99 former8019.15 undergraduate8019.55 classmate8020.1 of8020.59 mine8020.66 diagnosed8020.99 with8021.47 borderline8021.63 personality8022.27 disorder8022.91 was8023.31 on8023.47 the8023.55 wait8023.7 list8023.95 for8024.1 assisted8024.66 suicide8024.82 in8025.06 Switzerland.8025.3 She8026.18 was8026.42 told8026.66 that8026.98 BPD8027.22 was8028.18 terminal8028.5 and8028.9 incurable.8029.14 However,8030.02 according8030.5 to8030.9 the8031.06 NIH,8031.14 BPD8031.62 has8032.1 a8032.34 higher8032.5 than8032.98 508033.22 percent8033.54 remission8033.94 rate8034.42 after8034.66 58035.06 years.8035.3 Why8036.1 should8036.34 we8036.68 allow,8036.84 based8037.64 on8037.95 the8038.11 fallacious8038.2 beliefs8038.84 of8039.16 the8039.24 segment8039.4 of8039.72 the8039.88 medical8039.95 profession,8040.35 that8040.99 she8041.16 be8041.4 administered8041.56 lethal8042.44 medications?8042.84 This8043.95 this8044.2 would8044.44 be8044.6 not8044.84 be8045.07 the8045.32 first8045.48 time8045.72 we8045.95 have8046.11 seen8046.28 this8046.52 as8046.76 a8046.91 result8046.99 of8047.24 so8047.4 called8047.64 assisted8047.8 suicide8048.28 legislation8048.76 in8049.4 the8049.48 Western8049.56 world.8050.17 In8050.65 2024,8050.81 an8051.61 otherwise8051.77 healthy8052.17 288052.57 year8052.97 old8053.21 Dutch8053.37 woman8053.77 was8054.41 suffering8054.65 from8055.05 depression8055.21 and8056.01 decided8056.25 to8056.65 take8056.81 her8057.05 own8057.21 life8057.37 with8057.69 the8057.85 help8058.01 of8058.17 a8058.33 doctor8058.41 despite8058.81 being8059.21 otherwise8059.45 healthy.8059.85 We8060.73 have8060.89 also8061.05 seen8061.29 in8061.53 Canada8061.69 who8062.49 was8062.73 misdiagnosed8062.89 a8063.61 man8063.69 who8063.93 was8064.09 misdiagnosed8064.17 with8064.44 a8064.72 terminal8064.97 illness8065.45 fast8065.91 tracked8066.15 to8066.23 assisted8066.64 suicide.8066.95 Luckily,8067.68 he8068.15 did8068.31 not8068.48 die.8068.72 I8069.19 can't8069.35 help8069.59 but8069.84 think8069.91 that8070.23 there8070.48 were8070.64 others8070.72 who8070.91 were8071.11 not8071.27 so8071.51 lucky.8071.68 The8072.31 principle8072.55 of8073.35 primum8073.59 nom8074.48 no8074.95 crit,8075.11 first8076.07 do8076.4 no8076.64 harm,8076.88 as8077.44 a8077.68 cornerstone8077.76 of8078.31 medical8078.48 ethics.8078.95 What8079.68 is8079.84 the8079.99 administration8080.15 of8080.8 lethal8080.95 drugs8081.35 if8081.75 not8082.07 harm?8082.87 Proponents8083.11 of8083.59 the8083.75 smell8083.91 may8084.47 contend8084.79 that8085.19 the8085.43 emotional8085.59 harm8086.07 of8086.39 continued8086.47 suffering8087.19 outweighs8087.75 the8088.15 ultimate8088.31 harm8088.71 of8088.95 death.8089.11 This8089.75 is8089.99 a8090.15 consequentialist8090.31 assertion8091.27 that8091.99 is8092.23 devoid8092.39 of8092.79 any8092.95 substance8093.19 beyond8093.67 anecdotes8094.07 from8094.55 those8094.71 in8094.87 mental8095.03 distress8095.35 who8095.83 by8096.15 definition8096.39 are8096.95 not8097.11 of,8097.35 sound8098.19 mind8098.43 or8098.98 justifications8099.22 from8100.26 certain8100.51 strains8100.82 of8101.15 postmodernist8101.3 moral8102.19 relativism.8102.43 The8103.39 fact8103.55 that8103.78 we8103.94 are8104.02 even8104.19 having8104.51 this8104.82 debate8104.98 demonstrates8105.39 that8105.86 the8106.02 morality8106.1 of8106.59 assisted8106.74 suicide8107.22 is8107.7 uncertain.8107.86 What8108.66 is8108.82 certain,8109.06 whoever,8109.39 is8109.94 the8110.1 ultimate8110.26 harm8110.74 of8111.06 death.8111.15 Suicidality8111.86 itself8112.74 is8113.19 a8113.27 symptom8113.51 of8113.75 illness.8113.91 We8114.71 do8114.87 not8115.03 treat8115.27 suicidality8115.67 by8116.47 helping8116.71 or8117.27 encouraging8117.51 patients8117.99 to8118.47 kill8118.55 themselves8118.79 any8119.43 more8119.67 than8119.83 we8120.07 would8120.15 tell8120.31 an8120.55 emaciated8120.79 anorexic8121.51 teen8122.07 that8122.39 she8122.55 is8122.71 in8122.95 fact8123.11 not8123.43 skinny8123.67 enough8123.99 and8124.23 then8124.39 prescribe8124.55 her8125.03 Ozempic.8125.11 This8125.99 bill8126.23 creates8126.55 a8126.87 financial8126.95 incentive8127.43 for8127.91 insurance8128.07 companies8128.63 to8129.13 prioritize8129.36 the8129.93 cheaper8130.09 assisted8130.48 suicide8130.8 over8131.69 palliative8131.93 or8132.4 hospice8132.56 care.8133.05 How8133.69 can8133.84 we8134.01 guarantee8134.24 patients8134.72 aren't8135.13 pressured8135.36 into8135.69 assisted8136.01 suicide8136.4 for8136.97 financial8137.13 reasons?8137.52 Why8138.48 is8138.72 capital8138.97 punishment8139.28 wrong?8139.84 Because8140.48 it8140.8 is8140.89 irreversible.8141.2 Once8142.28 applied,8142.6 no8142.92 further8143.08 evidence,8143.4 no8144.04 further8144.28 hope8144.68 is8144.92 relevant.8145.16 We8145.96 acknowledge8146.2 the8146.68 fallibility8146.84 of8147.48 human8147.64 judgment,8147.96 recognizing8148.52 that8149 both8149.16 the8149.48 citizens8149.72 and8150.36 the8150.6 institutions8150.76 of8151.48 our8151.64 great8151.8 state8152.12 can8152.52 be8152.76 wrong.8152.92 We8153.88 have8154.04 determined8154.2 that8154.92 we8155.08 treat8155.32 the8155.56 worst8155.72 of8155.96 the8156.12 worst8156.2 in8156.52 our8156.68 society8156.84 with8157.24 this8157.48 in8157.64 mind.8157.8 People8158.57 who8158.9 murder,8159.14 who8159.61 murder8159.78 dozens,8160.18 who8160.74 rape,8160.98 kidnap,8161.61 mutilate,8162.34 and8162.82 murder8162.98 children.8163.38 We8163.94 have8164.1 decided8164.41 that8164.98 is8165.22 it8165.53 is8165.7 unethical8165.94 to8166.49 put8166.66 them8166.82 to8166.98 death8167.14 because8167.7 even8168.1 then,8168.34 we8168.66 may8168.82 be8168.98 wrong.8169.14 Yet8169.85 for8170.1 people8170.26 having8170.66 the8171.06 worst8171.22 days8171.53 of8171.85 their8172.02 lives8172.26 due8172.82 to8173.06 health8173.14 struggles,8173.38 we8174.2 forget8174.28 our8174.76 fallibility?8174.92 Why8175.96 do8176.2 we8176.44 want8176.52 to8176.76 extend8176.92 better8177.32 protections8178.52 to8179 the8179.16 kidnappers,8179.32 rapists,8179.96 and8180.36 murderers8180.6 of8181 children8181.16 than8181.72 to8181.96 those8182.12 afflicted8182.36 with8182.84 putatively8183.08 terminal8183.88 illnesses?8184.2 Doctors8186.01 should8186.32 not8186.57 kill8186.73 people.8187.05 This8187.6 bill8187.93 would8188.32 legalize8188.57 what8189.36 is8189.53 manslaughter8189.77 according8190.57 to8190.97 a8191.2 228191.36 208192.08 228192.41 Massachusetts8192.97 Supreme8194.25 Court8194.57 case.8194.89
8195.69 SPEAKER118195.69 -8195.69 I8195.69 urge8195.85 you8196.08 to8196.25 vote8196.41
8196.57 SPEAKER288196.57 -8196.57 against8196.57 this8196.81 bill.8196.97 Thank8197.2 you8197.36 for8197.52 listening.8197.69
8198.17 SPEAKER18198.17 -8198.17 Thank8198.17 you.8198.41 At8199.6 this8199.85 time,8200.08 I8200.41 would8200.73 welcome,8201.05 doctor8201.85 Thomas8202.49 Hain8204.49 by8204.57 way8204.73 of8204.97 Teams.8205.13
8215.42 Doctor8215.42 Hain,8215.82 we8216.06 welcome.8216.61
8217.9 SPEAKER498217.9 -8217.9 Sorry.8217.9 Can8218.14 you8218.3 see8218.45 me?8218.53
8218.85 SPEAKER48218.85 -8218.85 We8218.85 can8219.01
8219.17 SPEAKER18219.17 -8219.17 see8219.17 you8219.33 and8219.5 hear8219.66 you.8219.82 Welcome.8219.98
8220.85 SPEAKER498220.85 -8220.85 Great.8220.85 Thank8221.25 you.8221.5 Respect8223.33 to8223.74 the8223.9 legislators.8224.06 Thanks8224.61 for8224.85 the8225.01 opportunity8225.09 to8225.66 speak.8225.82 I'm8226.38 attending8226.61 physician8227.01 in8227.5 internal8227.66 medicine8228.06 at8228.38 Mass8228.53 General,8228.77 and8229.41 so8229.49 I'm8229.73 exactly8229.81 the8230.29 kind8230.45 of8230.61 person8230.77 who'd8231.09 be8231.33 prescribing8231.57 the8232.53 medical8232.69 aid8233.01 in8233.25 dying8233.33 meds8233.49 that8233.65 are8233.89 outlined8234.05 in8234.45 these8234.53 bills.8234.69 Of8235.73 course,8235.89 my8236.13 disclaimers,8236.37 I'm8236.77 speaking8237.01 for8237.33 myself8237.49 and8237.89 not8238.05 my8238.21 institution.8238.45
8239.33 SPEAKER48239.33 -8239.33 But8239.33 I8239.49
8239.57 SPEAKER498239.57 -8239.57 know8239.57 I8239.73 speak8239.81 for8240.05 many8240.21 of8240.33 my8240.45 colleagues8240.61 when8241.01 I8241.25 say8241.41 I8241.57 strongly8241.81 oppose8242.21 this8242.53 bill8242.69 on8242.93 all8243.09 being8243.25 bills,8244 and8245.03 to8245.19 legalize8245.43 medical8246.4 aid8246.72 in8246.88 dying,8247.03 which8247.35 obviously8247.67 is8248.08 more8248.24 accurately8248.4 termed8248.95 physician8249.51 assisted8250 suicide8250.4 or8250.88 PAS.8251.03 If8251.92 you're8252.16 for8252.24 many8252.48 other8252.72 physicians8252.95 today8253.35 about8254 how8254.24 the8254.48 largest8254.56 associations8255.03 like8255.51 the8255.75 AMA8255.83 and8256.16 ACP8256.4 oppose8257.19 PAS,8257.59 while8258.48 my8258.64 palliative8258.8 care8259.2 friends8259.36 oppose8259.68 PAS.8260 And8261.04 we've8261.2 all8261.44 heard8261.68 sick8262.08 patients8262.32 lament,8262.64 doctor,8263.68 I8264 just8264.08 wanna8264.32 die.8264.64 The8265.04 question8265.2 is,8265.6 how8266.32 are8266.48 we8266.56 as8266.8 compassionate8266.96 leader8267.52 healers8267.92 respond8268.4 to8268.8 this?8268.96 Any8269.76 good8270.08 physician8270.32 will8270.96 be8271.12 teaching8271.28 their8271.6 medical8271.76 students8272.08 that8272.4 this8272.64 is8272.8 a8272.96 cry8273.04 for8273.28 help.8273.44 Maybe8274.07 there's8274.31 the8274.63 patient8274.86 is8275.1 suffering8275.27 untreated8275.67 pain8276.07 or8276.31 feel8276.55 like8276.7 they're8276.86 burning8277.02 others.8277.35 Helping8278.47 patients8278.78 like8279.1 this8279.27 takes8279.5 a8279.63 lot8279.75 of8279.99 time.8280.07 It8280.31 takes8280.47 compassionate8280.7 listening.8281.19 Obviously,8281.99 it'd8282.23 be8282.47 faster8282.7 and,8283.1 less8284.07 costly8284.39 just8284.78 to8284.94 help8285.02 them8285.19 commit8285.43 suicide.8285.75 And8286.46 that's8286.7 where8286.78 medicines8286.94 to8287.5 be8287.58 headed8287.74 these8287.98 days.8288.14 It's8288.3 faster,8288.62 less8289.5 costly.8289.82 But8290.54 I8290.7 certainly8290.86 worry8291.26 that8291.5 if8291.82 PS8292.14 were8292.38 on8292.54 the8292.62 table8292.78 here8293.02 in8293.18 Massachusetts,8293.34 would8294.38 already8294.62 work8294.86 it8295.1 would8295.18 worsen8295.42 already8295.9 tragic8296.22 crisis8296.62 and8297.1 the8297.34 patient,8297.58 physician8299.18 relationship.8299.66 Patients8300.83 already8301.15 have8301.23 too8301.39 many8301.63 act8301.78 extra8302.1 pressures,8302.42 and8303.15 we8303.31 can8303.47 look8303.55 at8303.78 testimonies8303.86 from8304.42 Oregon,8304.5 California8304.91 that8305.78 suggest8306.1 that8306.58 some8306.67 insurance8306.91 companies8307.31 are8307.94 gladly8308.1 offering8308.91 to8309.31 pay8309.39 for8309.47 assisted8309.7 suicide8310.1 drugs,8310.5 but8310.83 not8310.99 other8311.15 more8311.39 expensive8311.63 treatments.8312.02 Push8313.43 your8313.67 PS8313.75 is8314.15 taking8314.23 away8314.47 the8314.79 focus8314.87 from8315.11 what's8315.35 needed,8315.51 good8316.47 palliative8316.71 care.8317.19 Trauma8317.83 patients8318.15 need8318.47 not8318.71 choose8318.87 between8319.11 excruciating8319.35 pain8319.99 and8320.23 suicide.8320.39 This8321.51 builds8321.75 us8321.99 ground8322.15 as8322.55 an8322.79 act8323.03 relative8323.27 to8323.91 end8324.07 of8324.23 life8324.39 options.8324.71 We8325.67 should8325.83 bolster8325.99 our8326.39 best8326.55 option8326.78 on8327.1 the8327.18 table,8327.26 good8327.5 palliative8327.75 care,8328.15 and8328.63 not8328.78 bolster8329.02 most8329.42 tragic8329.67 options,8330.07 suicide.8330.39 To8331.5 all8331.67 of8331.83 the8331.91 people8332.07 who8332.39 have8332.47 given8332.63 these8332.86 very8333.18 moving8333.5 stories,8333.83 in8334.7 favor8334.86 of8335.34 PS,8335.42 let8335.83 me8335.99 be8336.15 frank.8336.31 You're8337.75 all8337.91 talking8338.15 about8338.39 choices,8338.55 but8339.1 the8339.42 tragic8339.5 choice8339.91 you8340.36 want,8340.6 it's8340.76 already8340.92 there.8341.32 Anyone8342.04 with8342.36 the8342.6 Internet8342.76 can8343.16 figure8343.32 out8343.56 how8343.8 to8343.96 end8344.04 their8344.2 own8344.36 life8344.44 in8344.84 an8345 online8345.08 fashion.8345.56 What8346.6 is8346.76 on8346.92 the8347 table8347.16 is8347.4 whether8347.48 we8347.8 doctors8347.96 should8348.36 be8348.52 assisted8348.68 in8349.08 in8349.24 the8349.4 suicide.8349.56 They8350.52 want8350.76 us8351 to8351.16 sanction8351.4 this8352.04 decision.8352.28 They8352.76 want8352.92 you,8353.24 the8353.8 state,8353.96 to8354.65 sanction8354.81 this8355.52 decision.8355.77 It's8356.49 almost8356.65 like8356.97 asking8357.2 a8357.6 priest8357.77 to8358.41 get8358.57 absolution8358.81 in8359.36 advance.8359.52 In8360.49 every8360.65 other8360.89 American8361.13 medicine,8361.6 when8362.17 a8362.33 person8362.49 wants8362.73 to8362.97 kill8363.05 themselves,8363.28 we8363.77 step8363.93 in8364.08 and8364.25 we8364.41 walk8364.57 beside8364.81 them.8365.13 And8365.85 we8366.08 say,8366.25 no.8366.57 Let's8366.89 help8367.13 you.8367.28 Let's8367.52 help8367.77 you.8368.01 Instead,8368.75 this8368.99 is8369.23 like8369.39 instead8369.63 of8369.95 just8370.03 having8370.11 a8370.35 stethoscope8370.51 or8371.15 meds8371.31 in8371.63 my8371.71 white8371.87 coat,8372.67 it's8372.91 also8373.07 I've8373.39 got8373.55 cyanide8373.95 in8374.43 there8374.51 that8374.67 could8374.83 kill.8374.99 In8376.35 closing,8376.59 obviously,8377.23 I8377.71 think8377.79 the8378.03 slippery8378.11 slope8378.59 argument8378.99 is8379.71 very8379.95 real.8380.19 We've8380.67 heard8380.99 testimony8381.23 about8381.87 that8382.11 in8382.27 Europe8382.43 of8382.75 child8383.07 euthanasia8383.31 and8383.7 voluntary8383.86 euthanasia.8384.35 In8385.23 The8385.47 U8385.63 US,8385.86 there's8386.19 troubling8386.43 cases8386.83 of8387.31 people8387.39 with8387.7 mental8387.94 health8388.19 like8388.43 anorexia8388.67 or8389.15 dying8389.23 without8389.55 PS.8389.86 And8390.67 finally,8390.83 I8391.07 mentioned8391.23 that8391.55 a8391.63 push8391.7 for8391.94 PS8392.1 in8392.35 The8392.43 United8392.51 States8392.83 has8393.23 come8393.39 overwhelmingly8393.7 from8394.43 privileged8394.58 white8395.07 people.8395.23 Survey8396.08 showed8396.4 that8396.8 Hispanics8397.12 and8397.6 blacks8397.76 overwhelmingly8398.16 reject8398.8 PS.8399.2 So8399.84 maybe8400 we'd8400.24 all8400.4 do8400.56 well8400.72 to8400.88 learn8401.04 lesson8401.28 from8401.6 these8401.76 minority8401.92 constituents,8402.4 a8403.2 life8403.36 of8403.6 hardship8403.68 merits8404.08 assistance,8404.48 not8404.96 suicide.8405.2 If8406.08 you8406.24 want8406.4 suicide,8406.64 keep8407.28 us8407.52 positions8407.76 out8408.16 of8408.32 it.8408.4 Thank8408.8 you8409.04 very8409.2 much.8409.44
8410.4 SPEAKER18410.4 -8410.4 Thank8410.4 you.8410.72 At8412.1 this8412.34 time,8412.58 I8412.9 would8413.06 welcome8413.31 the,8413.86 honorable8414.75 reverend8415.31 doctor8415.7 Timothy8416.02 Schottmeyer.8416.67
8439.74 SPEAKER338439.74 -8439.74 Okay.8439.74 Madam8441.09 chair,8441.5 mister8441.82 chair,8442.22 my8442.53 name8442.69 is8442.94 the8443.25 Reverend8443.42 Tim8443.82 Schottmeyer8444.06 from8444.61 Marblehead,8444.77 a8445.33 proud8445.42 resident8445.82 of8446.22 the8446.3 Essex8446.45 Sturd.8446.85 I've8447.74 come8447.98 today8448.22 to8448.61 support8448.77 come8449.82 out8449.98 today8450.14 in8450.53 support8450.77 of8451.25 bills8451.7 h8452.58 208452.9 258453.7 and8454.58 s8454.82 148455.22 86.8455.7 As8457.7 part8458.02 of8458.26 my,8458.42 career8459.94 vocation8460.42 over8460.98 many8461.22 years,8461.54 I've8462.5 been8462.74 called8462.98 to8463.3 stand8463.46 by8463.78 and8463.94 walk8464.18 with8464.5 many8464.74 families8465.06 and8465.7 individuals8465.86 as8466.58 they8466.74 go8466.9 through8467.15 the8467.47 end8467.86 process8468.1 of8468.58 their8468.75 lives.8468.99 And8470.1 I8470.35 know8470.43 for8470.58 many8470.83 people,8471.07 we8471.31 all8471.55 hope8471.7 for8471.94 a8472.19 peaceful8472.27 death.8472.75 And8473.55 we8473.7 have8473.86 in8474.1 our8474.19 mind8474.35 though8474.67 that8474.99 of8475.23 18475.39 of8475.63 many8475.78 people8476.02 slowly8476.51 swifting8477.07 off,8477.55 slipping8478.27 off8478.75 into8479.74 a8480.06 dream8480.22 and8480.54 going8480.78 quietly.8481.18 Unfortunately,8482.38 that8482.94 is8483.26 not8483.42 often8483.58 the8483.9 case8484.06 as8484.38 all8484.54 of8484.7 us8484.94 know.8485.1 Not8486.46 only8486.78 is8487.02 the8487.18 death,8487.34 painful8489.1 for8490.54 the8490.78 individual8491.02 going8491.66 through8491.98 it8492.22 and8492.62 the8492.86 suffering8493.1 that8493.5 they're8493.74 going8493.98 through,8494.3 It8495.5 is8495.66 often8495.9 also8496.69 leaves8497.1 deep8497.5 emotional8497.9 scars8498.53 for8498.94 their8499.18 families8499.42 that8499.9 are8500.06 involved8500.22 in8500.69 that8501.02 love8501.58 and8501.82 care8501.98 for8502.22 them8502.38 as8502.61 well,8502.77 seeing8503.1 them8503.33 suffer8503.58 through8503.98 that8504.3 those8504.77 pain8505.18 those8505.5 injuries.8505.82
8508.83 It8508.83 is8508.99 not8509.15 a8509.35 dignified,8509.55 if8510.59 not8510.83 if8511.07 I8511.23 dare8511.39 I8511.71 say8511.87 it8512.03 is8512.27 the8512.59 least8512.75 thing,8513.15 but8513.71 a8514.03 dignified8514.19 way8514.83 to8514.99 go.8515.15 As8517.47 a8517.71 theologian,8517.95 I8520.19 think8520.27 it's8520.51 fair8520.75 to8520.99 say8521.15 that8521.39 we8521.71 look8521.95 at8522.19 physician8524.05 aided,8524.36 enabled8525.65 suicide,8526.13 assisted8526.84 suicide,8527.25 the8529.48 whole8529.73 word8529.89 suicide.8530.2 I8530.68 could8530.76 go8531 on8531.17 for8531.4 hours8531.65 about8532.05 that.8532.28 But8532.84 physician8533.08 assisted8533.56 death,8534.05 death8534.84 with8535.17 dignity8535.33 through8537.64 the8537.96 lens,8538.12 through8539.72 a8540.04 puritanical8540.12 lens,8540.84 and8541.8 through8541.96 Puritan8542.28 theology.8543.24 And8544.44 it8544.6 often8544.84 leaves8545.16 us8545.48 with8545.64 puritanical8545.88 guilt8546.6 when8546.92 we8547.08 think8547.24 about8547.48 these8547.72 issues.8547.96
8551.08 I8551.08 would8551.25 like8551.36 to8551.49 say8551.73 that8551.97 I8552.13 am8552.2 a8552.84 proud8553 give8554.2 me8554.44 the8554.68 indulgence8554.76 for8555.25 18555.41 second8555.56 if8555.89 I8556.05 just8556.13 ask8556.36 us8556.52 to8556.68 reframe8556.92 in8557.65 conclusion8557.89 what8559 we're8559.25 dealing8559.41 with.8559.89 I8561.56 am8561.73 proudly8561.97 pro8562.44 choice.8562.68 Both8564.69 when8564.93 it8565.01 comes8565.09 to8565.49 a8565.65 woman's8565.81 right8566.13 to8566.37 choice8566.53 with8566.85 their8567.01 bodies,8567.17 but8569.33 also8569.57 when8569.89 it8570.05 comes8570.13 to8570.45 the8570.61 choice8570.69 of8571.01 somebody8571.17 that8571.49 is8571.73 terminally8571.89 ill8572.45 that8573.49 meets8573.81 the8574.13 robust8574.69 and8576.13 rigid8576.37 requirements8576.85 as8578.37 they8578.61 are8578.85 outlined8579.01 in8579.7 this8579.78 bill.8580.1 And8581.15 if8581.39 anyone8581.55 could8581.94 see8582.18 the8582.42 chances8582.58 of8583.07 someone8583.31 accidentally8584.67 being8585.47 coerced8585.78 or8586.83 something8587.07 along8587.39 those8587.7 lines8587.94 are8588.34 are8588.83 near8589.07 impossible.8589.39
8592.82 I8592.82 believe8592.98 in8593.3 choice8593.54 for8593.86 these8594.1 individuals8594.34 that8596.02 they8596.18 should8596.34 have8596.58 the8596.82 choice8596.98 over8598.1 their8598.42 bodies8598.74 to8599.86 die8600.1 in8600.42 the8600.66 way8600.82 that8601.06 they8601.3 see8601.54 appropriate8601.78 in8603.3 a8603.54 compassionate8603.7 manner,8604.42 in8605.54 a8605.78 dignified8605.94 manner,8606.66 in8607.92 the8608.16 manner8608.31 that8608.64 we8608.8 would8608.95 like8609.19 to8609.35 see8609.43 ourselves8609.67 go,8610.23 but8611.51 more8611.75 importantly8612 in8612.48 the8612.64 manner8612.72 that8613.03 we8613.27 would8613.43 like8613.59 to8613.75 see8613.92 our8614.16 mothers,8614.48 fathers,8615.67 and8616.8 loved8617.03 ones8617.27 go.8617.67 Thank8618.8 you8619.11 very8619.35 much8619.59 for8619.83 your8620 time8620.16 and8620.4 consideration.8620.56 I8621.27 ask8621.43 you8621.67 to8621.92 support8622 this8622.39 bill8622.63 these8622.95 bills.8623.27 I8624.47 appreciate8624.79 them8625.27 that's8625.43 moving8625.75 on8626.15 so8626.39 early.8626.55 Let's8627.51 get8627.75 them8627.99 to8628.15 the8628.39 floor8628.47 and8628.71 get8628.87 them8629.03 passed8629.19 this8629.43 year.8629.67 Thank8630.23 you8630.47 very8630.63 much8630.87 and8631.11 have8631.27 a8631.39 blessed8631.51 day.8631.91
8632.87 SPEAKER18632.87 -8632.87 Thank8632.87 you.8633.03 At8634.47 this8634.63 time,8634.79 I8635.11 would8635.27 like8635.43 to8635.67 welcome8635.83 by8636.39 way8636.63 of8636.79 teams,8636.95 Mark8637.43
8643.81 SPEAKER48643.81 -8643.81 Peterson.8643.81
8647.08 SPEAKER18647.08 -8647.08 Welcome.8647.08
8657.53 SPEAKER478657.53 -8657.53 Can8657.53 you8657.85 hear8658.09 me?8658.25
8659.05 SPEAKER248659.05 -8659.05 Can8659.05 you8659.17 hear8659.29 me?8659.61
8661.05 SPEAKER478661.05 -8661.05 Yes.8661.05 You8661.45 can.8661.61
8662.89 SPEAKER18662.89 -8662.89 We8662.89 can8663.13 hear8663.37 you.8663.53 Welcome.8663.69
8664.89 SPEAKER478664.89 -8664.89 Thank8664.89 you8665.05 very8665.29 much,8665.61 and8666.8 thank8667.03 you8667.19 for8667.43 advancing8667.75 this8668.23 bill8668.4 so8668.72 soon.8668.88 I8669.75 wanna8670 tell8670.23 a8670.4 very8670.56 personal8670.8 story,8671.35 associated8672.88 with8673.35 my8673.59 mother,8673.75 who8675.03 was8675.19 an8675.51 avowed,8675.75 atheist.8677.11 She8678.23 was8678.48 not8678.64 in8678.95 any8679.11 sense8679.35 enamored8681.59 by8682.23 biblical8682.71 and8684.31 theistic8684.47 arguments.8685.03 At8686.39 the8686.55 age8686.71 of8686.95 75,8687.03 she8687.59 was8687.75 diagnosed8687.99 with8689.03 COPD,8689.83 chronic8691.59 obstructive8692.23 personnel,8692.95 pulmonary8694.31 disease.8694.95 And8695.51 from8696.53 that8696.61 point8696.85 on,8697.09 she8697.42 was8697.57 on8697.81 oxygen8698.06 248698.69 7.8699.33 At8700.61 the8700.85 age8700.93 of8701.17 78,8701.33 near8703.5 Thanksgiving8703.81 several8705.73 years8706.14 ago,8706.38 she8707.33 made8709.54 the8709.78 choice.8709.94 She8711.22 said8711.46 she8711.7 wanted8711.86 to8712.26 die.8712.42 At8713.86 that8714.1 point,8714.18 her8715.06 favorite8715.3 thing8715.7 to8715.94 do8716.1 was8716.34 read8716.58 and8716.9 she8717.14 was8717.3 going8717.54 blind.8717.86 She8719.06 was8719.3 also8719.54 having8720.02 trouble8720.34 with8720.74 continents8720.98 and8722.66 unable8723.14 to8723.61 move8723.77 easily.8724.17 And,8725.85 she8727.06 was,8727.38 basically8729.53 saying,8730.25 I8730.9 I've8731.22 had8731.53 enough.8731.69 I8732.09 can't8732.25 do8732.5 this8732.66 anymore.8732.9
8735.59 She8735.59 didn't8735.91 have8736.23 option8736.71 to,8737.27 medical8738.55 aid8738.95 in8739.27 dying.8739.35 And8739.75 in8739.99 fact,8740.15 what8741.11 she8741.35 did8741.59 in8742.47 January8742.79 of8743.67 208743.83 of8744.39 the8744.47 next8744.63 year,8744.95 when8746.55 she8746.79 was,8747.03
8749.93 had8749.93 consulted8750.33 with8750.81 her8751.05 tax8751.44
8754.01 CPA8754.01 to8754.73 determine8754.97 what8756.09 would8756.33 be8756.49 better8756.73 for8757.05 her8757.2 children.8757.44 She8758.73 stopped8758.97 eating,8759.28 she8760.17 stopped8760.41 drinking,8760.73 she8761.76 stopped8762 all8762.32 of8762.64 the8762.72 medications8762.88 she8763.52 took8763.68 that8764 gave8764.24 her8764.4 some8764.72 comfort.8765.04 And8766.08 for8766.4 58766.72 days,8767.04 I8768.56 watched8768.8 the8769.2 agony8769.36 of8769.84 her8770 panting8770.4 for8770.88 breath.8771.12 And8773.04 it8773.28 was8773.44 terrible8774.17 to8774.73 watch.8774.98 And8775.45 the8775.77 reason8775.93 I'm8776.25 sitting8776.65 here8777.06 is8777.45 to8777.61 say8777.77 she8778.17 didn't8778.42 need8778.81 that8779.06 she8779.61 shouldn't,8779.85 she8780.49 should8780.73 have8780.98 had8781.14 an8781.3 option.8781.53 I8782.65 strongly8782.9 disagree8783.53 with8784.09 the8784.33 use8784.49 of8784.73 the8784.81 inflammatory8785.06 term8785.93 suicide.8787.14 My8789.3 mother8789.46 would8789.7 have8789.86 wanted8790.02 to8790.42 die,8790.58 and8791.38 we8791.62 would8791.86 have8792.1 gladly,8792.18 under8793.06 the8793.38 circum8793.54 if8794.02 there8794.1 were8794.34 the8794.5 circumstances,8794.66 we8795.38 would8795.62 have8795.78 helped8795.94 her8796.18 do8796.42 that8796.5 and8797.94 be8798.26 with8798.5 her8798.74 as8799.14 she8799.38 passed.8799.62 As8800.18 a8800.42 result,8800.5 we8801.23 were8801.55 we8801.94 were8802.18 there,8802.42 but8802.9 it8803.15 was8803.23 excruciating8803.55 to8804.42 watch.8804.58 And8805.47 I8805.63 beg8805.78 you8806.02 to8806.26 please8806.34 advance8806.82 this8807.23 bill8807.39 as8807.86 soon8808.02 as8808.26 you8808.42 can.8808.58 Thank8809.55 you8809.86 very8810.1 much8810.34 for8810.66 hearing8810.98 my8811.31 testimony.8811.55
8814.28 SPEAKER18814.28 -8814.28 Thank8814.28 you.8814.6 At8816.68 this8816.92 time,8817.08 I8817.48 wanna8817.64 welcome8817.96 Laurie8818.68 Dammerin.8819.64
8834.95 SPEAKER508834.95 -8834.95 Hi.8834.95 My8835.35 name8835.52 is8835.75 Laurie8835.92 Dammeron,8836.32 and8836.8 I'm8836.95 here8837.11 to8837.35 express8837.52 my8837.92 strong8838.08 support8838.48 for8838.88 an8839.03 act8839.27 relative8839.52 to8839.92 the8840.08 life8840.39 end8840.79 of8841.03 life8841.19 options.8841.51 But8842.31 first,8842.55 I8842.87 want8842.95 to8843.19 extend8843.35 my8843.67 gratitude8843.83 to8844.39 each8844.55 of8844.71 you8844.95 for8845.51 your8845.75 dedication8845.91 and8846.39 hard8846.63 work8846.79 in8847.11 this8847.35 current8847.51 political8847.91 landscape.8848.55 Thank8849.11 you8849.27 very8849.51 much.8849.67 As8850.63 a8850.79 proud8850.95 resident8851.19 of8851.67 Massachusetts,8851.83 I'm8852.79 grateful8852.95 for8853.51 the8853.67 opportunity8853.75 to8854.49 address8854.65 you8854.91 address8855.18 you8855.44 today.8855.69 I8856.49 support8856.65 this8857.05 bill8857.28 and8857.52 medical8857.69 aid8858.08 in8858.33 dying8858.49 for8858.89 38859.13 primary8859.36 reasons.8859.93 First8861.13 is8861.52 choice.8861.85 This8862.65 legislation8862.89 offers8863.85 terminally8864.33 ill8864.89 individuals8865.28 a8866.08 dignified8866.25 choice8866.81 as8867.36 they8867.44 face8867.69 the8867.93 challenges8868.08 of8868.97 their8869.13 terminal8869.28 illness8870.16 and8870.4 the8871 inevitable8871.6 deterioration8872.08 of8872.52 their8872.96 health.8873.2 The8874.56 second8874.72 reason8875.04 is8875.68 that8875.84 this8876.08 bill8876.24 provides8876.64 an8877.12 end8877.36 to8877.52 needless8877.76 pain8878.64 and8878.88 suffering.8879.12 Terminal8881.04 illnesses8881.6 bring8882.08 immense8882.32 pain8882.8 and8882.96 suffering8883.12 with8884.24 death8884.4 as8884.8 the8884.96
8892.2 the8892.2 option8892.49 to8892.77 end8893.01 suffering8893.49
8896.52 peacefully8896.52 is8897.17 a8897.41 compassionate8897.57 response8898.2 that8898.77 many8899.08 many8899.41 individuals8899.73 seek.8900.36 And8901.62 lastly,8901.86 it's8902.5 personal8902.74 experience.8903.38 Excuse8905.78 me.8906.18 As8906.74 someone8906.98 living8907.38 with8907.62 stage8907.86 38908.18 c8908.5 ovarian8909.06 cancer8909.7 who8910.18 was8910.42 diagnosed8910.66 38911.14 and8911.38 a8911.54 half8911.62 years8911.86 ago,8912.1 I8912.82 have8912.98 battled8913.22 through8913.58 treatments,8913.83 enjoyed8914.78 remissions,8915.18 only8915.91 to8916.15 discover8916.63 that8917.18 my8917.42 disease8917.83 has8918.23 returned8918.39 again8919.26 and8919.5 again.8919.75 In8921.34 fact,8921.67 I8922.47 was8922.7 at8923.18 Mass8923.5 Gen8923.75 this8923.99 morning8924.23 undergoing8924.63 treatment.8925.1 While8926.15 I8926.39 hold8926.65 out8926.89 hope8927.13 for8927.45 a8927.69 miracle,8927.85 I8928.33 am8928.57 also8928.73 realistic8929.05 about8929.69 the8929.85 nature8930.01 of8930.33 my8930.41 disease.8930.65 Ovarian8931.53 cancer,8932.17 incurable8932.97 and8934.33 relentless,8934.57 will8935.29 likely8935.53 claim8935.93 my8936.17 life8936.41 in8936.73 a8936.89 very8937.05 painful8937.29 and8937.85 cruel8938.01 manner.8938.49 Having8939.61 lived8940.01 a8940.25 healthy8940.33 and8940.65 vibrant8940.81 life,8941.29 I8942.07 wish8942.31 to8942.72 retain8942.88 the8943.19 legal8943.43 right8943.83 to8944.15 peacefully8944.31 end8944.8 my8945.03 life8945.19 surrounded8945.75 by8946.15 my8946.31 loved8946.48 ones,8946.8 sparing8947.59 them8948 the8948.15 anguish8948.4 of8948.88 witnessing8949.03 my8949.51 suffering.8949.67
8952.8 As8952.8 my8953.03 condition8953.19 inevitably8953.75 worsens8954.4 and8955.03 my8955.19 body8955.43 succumbs8955.83 to8956.31 the8956.48 ravages8956.64 of8957.11 this8957.19 disease,8957.56 it8958.52 is8958.68 not8958.84 death8959.08 that8959.32 I8959.48 fear.8959.72 It's8960.2 living.8960.52 I8962.28 urge8962.52 the8962.76 committee8962.92 to8963.4 pass8963.48 this8963.72 act8963.96 providing8964.36 a8964.84 vital8964.92 option8965.32 in8965.64 health8965.88 care8966.12 decision8966.36 making8966.76 for8967.08 terminally8967.32 ill8967.96 individuals8968.2 across8968.84 the8969.16 commonwealth.8969.32 Thank8970.2 you8970.52 very8970.68 much8970.84 for8971 your8971.16 time8971.32 and8971.48 consideration.8971.56
8974.33 SPEAKER18974.33 -8974.33 Thank8974.33 you8974.66 for8974.9 your8975.14 time.8975.38
8980.9 At8980.9 this8981.06 time,8981.22 I8981.53 wanna8981.69 welcome8981.93 Mark8982.42 Carey8982.74 by8983.3 way8983.53 of8983.69 Teams.8983.93
8988.77 Okay.8988.77 Mark8989.57 is8989.89 not8990.05 here8990.37 on8990.69 Teams,8990.93 but8991.25 I8991.41 do8991.49 see8991.73 my8992.05 colleague,8992.29 senator8992.77 Cream.8993.33 It's8993.97 always8994.21 nice8994.61 to8994.85 see8995.01 you.8995.17
8999.01 SPEAKER188999.01 -8999.01 Thank8999.01 you.8999.25 I8999.57 I8999.73 don't8999.89 did9000.21 anyone9000.37 see9000.85 senator9001.09 Collins?9002.66 Oh,9003.14 okay.9003.53 Because9003.85 I9004.5 saw9004.66 him9004.9 upstairs9005.06 and9005.61 he9006.02 said9006.18 he9006.42 was9006.5 coming9006.74 down9007.06 to9007.3 testify.9007.53 So9008.1 I'm9008.66 gonna9008.82 include9009.14 him9009.61 even9010.42 though,9010.66 I9011.38 think9011.53 you9011.77 may9011.94 hear9012.18 the9012.33 same9012.5 thing9012.74 again.9012.9 Thank9013.69 you9013.94 all9014.18 very9014.42 much.9014.66 Thank9014.9 you9015.15 for9015.31 taking9015.47 me9015.63 out9015.87 of9016.11 turn.9016.19 It's9016.91 always9017.15 a9017.63 pleasure9017.71 to,9018.19 be9019.15 sponsoring9019.31 something9019.95 with,9020.35 my9020.99 friend,9021.23 representative9021.63 Decker.9022.27 So,9023.71 I9025.31 wanna9025.55 take9025.95 a9026.27 moment9026.43 to9026.91 acknowledge9027.07 mister9027.71 Daryl9028.11 Settles.9028.59 Let9030.33 me9030.56 start9030.81 by9031.05 saying9031.2 I'm9031.52 speaking9031.68 on9032 Senate9032.25 1489.9032.73 So9035.76 I9036.08 want9036.33 to9036.56 take9036.65 a9036.89 moment9036.97 to9037.44 acknowledge9037.6 mister9038.25 Daryl9038.73 Settles9039.05 who,9040 though9040.65 unable9040.97 to9041.44 be9041.68 here9041.92 today,9042.08 has9042.89 been9043.31 a9043.63 powerful9043.71 advocate9044.35 in9044.91 support9045.15 of9045.47 this9045.63 bill.9045.79 His9047.15 strength9047.47 in9047.87 channeling9048.11 unimaginable9048.99 loss9050.27 into9050.75 action9051.07 has9051.95 been9052.11 deeply9052.43 moving9052.91 and9053.39 instrumental9053.71 in9054.51 bringing9054.67 this9055.15 issue9055.39 forward.9055.79 We9056.88 are9057.11 here9057.35 today9057.6 largely9058.72 in9059.27 part9059.52 because9059.92 of9060.24 the9060.4 life9060.56 of9060.88 his9061.03 son,9061.19 Preston,9061.52 and9062.32 the9062.72 urgent9062.8 lesson9063.27 his9063.75 story9064 imparts.9064.56 159066.24 year9066.64 old9066.88 Preston9067.11 Settles9067.75 collapsed9068.72 during9069.19 a9069.52 basketball9069.68 game9070.4 due9071.11 to,9072.06 we9072.38 know9072.54 them9072.78 now9073.1 as9073.42 sudden9073.74 cardiac9074.14 arrest9074.78 and9075.66 tragically9075.98 he9076.62 did9076.86 not9077.1 survive.9077.26 His9079.1 passing9079.42 shook9079.9 the9080.3 Newton9080.46 and9080.94 brought9081.1 a9081.34 Massachusetts9081.5 communities9082.38 And9083.67 it9083.75 also9084 brought9084.48 critical9084.88 truth9085.43 into9085.92 the9086.31 sharper9086.48 focus9086.95 that9087.83 quick9088.15 access9088.64 to9089.59 an9089.83 automatic9090.08 external9090.95 defibrillator,9091.59 an9092.8 AED,9093.43 can9094.48 be9094.64 the9094.88 difference9095.03 between9095.59 life9096.08 and9096.4 death.9096.64 In9097.67 The9097.83 United9098 States,9098.48 approximately9099.15 a9100.03 hundred9100.19 to9100.75 a9101.07 hundred9101.15 and9101.39 509101.55 sudden9102.03 cardiac9102.75 deaths9103.31 occur9103.63 during9104.59 competitive9105.07 sports9105.71 each9106.19 year.9106.51 Survival9107.47 rates9108.11 can9108.43 be9108.67 high9108.91 as9109.55 909109.87 percent9110.19 when9110.67 a9110.91 defibrillator9111.15 is9112.11 used9112.35 within9112.91 the9113.55 first9113.63 minute,9114.02 but9114.75 drop9115.15 by9116.1 109116.34 percent9116.67 for9117.23 every9117.47 minute9117.78 that9118.26 passes9118.5 without9119.07 1.9119.47 And9121.63 yet,9121.86 as9122.34 far9122.67 too9123.31 many9123.55 athletic9124.1 events9124.67 especially9125.23 youth9125.86 sporting9126.67 events,9127.63 AEDs9128.11 are9128.91 not9129.07 available.9129.31 Or9130.43 those9130.59 nearby9130.91 are9131.63 untrained9131.95 in9132.59 how9132.75 to9132.99 use9133.15 them.9133.47 That's9134.35 not9134.67 acceptable.9134.99 That's9136.51 why9136.91 I9137.31 filed9137.47 Senate9138.03 19138.59 419138.83 49140.03 89140.43 99140.75 along9141.48 with9141.8 senator9142.03 Collins,9142.59 and9144.11 I9144.35 do9144.52 believe9144.75 representative9145.16 Decker,9145.8 to9146.83 require9147 at9147.56 least9147.64 19147.95 automatic9148.35 extended9149.16 defibrillator9150.27 on-site9151.4 and9152.19 ensure9152.44 the9152.92 presence9153.08 of9153.56 trained9153.8
9167.17 tools9167.17 they9167.49 need9167.73 when9168.77 seconds9169.4 matter9170.03 most.9170.35 And9171 above9171.24 all,9171.48 it's9171.8 about9172.03 saving9172.44 lives.9172.83 Implementation9174.67 of9175.4 this9175.64 bill9175.88 will9176.27 require9176.52 coordination9177.24 from9178.27 school9178.6 districts,9178.92 municipalities,9179.48 to9180.92 health9181.08 departments,9181.48 and9182.03 private9182.27 partners.9183.36 It's9183.68 doable.9183.92 It's9184.48 worth9184.8 it.9185.04 I9186.32 can9186.48 say9186.72 in9186.96 a9187.12 personal9187.2 note9187.76 that9188.72 my9189.12 father9189.44 was9190.88 in9191.2 an9191.92 ambulance9192.24 and9193.44 had9193.68 a9194.56 sudden9194.8 health9195.36 issue,9195.92 a9196.48 heart9196.56 issue,9196.8 and9197.67 there9197.83 was9198 no9198.23 defibrillator.9198.64 That9199.83 was,9200 some9201.43 many9201.75 years9202.08 ago,9202.48 but9203.19 if9203.43 there9203.59 had9203.83 been,9204.08 he9204.72 himself9205.11 would9205.59 not9205.83 have9206 died.9206.31 Now9207.03 there9207.43 are9207.67 defibrillators9207.92 in9208.88 ambulances,9209.19 but9210.31 that's9210.56 just9210.95 an9211.27 example9211.71 of9212.03 then9212.27 what9212.75 happened.9213.07 So9213.79 I9214.03 urge9214.19 the9214.51 committee9214.67 to9215.07 give9215.23 a9215.47 favorable9215.55 report.9216.11 I9216.59 think9216.67 my9216.99 time9217.15 is9217.39 up.9217.55 Thank9218.27 you9218.51 very9218.67 much.9218.83 I'm9219.07 happy9219.31 to9219.63 answer9219.79 any9220.11 questions9220.35 if9220.75 you9220.99 have9221.15 any.9221.31 Glad9222.75 to9222.99 see9223.15 my9223.39 colleague9223.47 representative9223.95 Sangiola.9224.59
9226.75 SPEAKER19226.75 -9226.75 Thank9226.75 you,9227.22
9227.45 SPEAKER189227.45 -9227.45 Sarah.9227.45 Great.9227.69 And9228.09 I9228.33 know9228.57 that9228.9 senator9229.22 Collins9229.69 is9230.09 on9230.33 his9230.5 way.9230.65 Great.9231.14 Thank9231.3 you.9231.61
9232.01 SPEAKER19232.01 -9232.01 Good9232.01 to9232.17 see9232.33 you.9232.42 At9234.9 this9235.06 time,9235.3 I9235.77 wanna9235.93 welcome9236.33 on9236.81 by9237.14 way9237.38 of9237.53 teams,9237.61 Christian9238.01 Antilex.9238.5 Oh,9239.22 actually,9239.61 Christian.9240.01 I9240.5 don't9240.57 think9240.81 Christian9240.98 is9241.45 on.9241.61
9244.39 Tracy9244.39 Lawrence.9244.87
9248.95 Is9248.95 Tracy9249.27 Lawrence9249.59 here?9249.99
9253.03 Okay.9253.03 By9254.87 way9255.11 of9255.35 teams,9255.59 Griffin9257.25 Lysinger9258.61 Lysinger?9259.74
9263.98 SPEAKER519263.98 -9263.98 Yes.9263.98 Hello.9264.38
9265.25 SPEAKER19265.25 -9265.25 Welcome.9265.25
9265.9 SPEAKER519265.9 -9265.9 Lys9265.9 well,9266.85 thank9267.1 you.9267.33
9271.9 Hello9271.9 and,9272.22 thank9272.78 you9272.94 to9273.26 the9273.42 committee9273.5 for9273.74 giving9273.98 me9274.14 the9274.3 time9274.46 to9274.62 speak9274.78 today.9275.02 My9275.66 name9275.82 is9275.9 Griffin9276.06 Leisinger.9276.46 I9277.26 work9277.42 right9277.66 now9277.82 at9277.98 Hampshire9278.06 College9278.38 in9278.86 its9279.02 accessibility9279.26 office9279.9 where9280.22 I9280.46 serve9280.54 hundreds9280.7 of9281.02 disabled9281.1 students.9281.5 I9282.14 teach9282.3 disability9282.54 policy,9282.94 eugenics,9283.26 and9283.74 disability9283.9 studies9284.22 at9284.54 the9284.7 University9284.78 of9285.18 Massachusetts9285.26 Amherst9285.74 where9286.22 I9286.38 also9286.46 conduct9286.7 research9287.1 on9287.58 higher9287.83 education9287.99 disability9288.55 policy.9288.86 I'm9289.91 here9290.15 today9290.31 on9290.7 my9290.86 own9291.02 accord9291.26 as9291.58 a9291.67 disabled9291.83 individual9292.23 to9292.7 express9292.94 my9293.34 opposition9293.58 to9293.99 bill9294.23 149294.55 86.9295.1 In9297.18 a9297.42 more9297.5 perfect9297.67 world9297.99 where9298.31 we9298.47 can9298.63 have9298.78 the9298.94 compassionate9299.02 choices9299.58 with9300.06 all9300.23 the9300.39 care9300.55 that9300.86 we9300.94 need,9301.02 I9301.5 may9301.67 be9301.83 able9301.91 to9302.15 support9302.23 this9302.55 bill.9302.78 I9303.35 truly9303.43 believe9303.75 in9303.99 autonomous9304.15 and9304.55 peaceful9304.71 death9305.11 options9305.35 and9305.67 deeply9305.83 empathize9306.15 the9306.55 experiences9306.71 of9307.43 those9307.51 in9307.75 support9307.91 of9308.31 this9308.39 bill.9308.55 I've9309.11 also9309.27 watched9309.51 those9309.75 I9309.99 love9310.15 and9310.31 care9310.47 for9310.71 die9310.87 slowly.9311.03 Fortunately,9312.63 however,9313.19 we9313.59 do9313.75 not9313.83 live9313.99 in9314.23 a9314.39 more9314.47 perfect9314.63 world.9314.95 Rather9315.36 we9315.6 live9315.69 in9315.77 a9316 world9316.08 where9316.49 a9316.73 broken9316.81 wheelchair9317.13 can9317.52 turn9317.69 into9317.84 life9318.08 in9318.33 a9318.41 nursing9318.49 home9318.81 and9319.2 a9319.44 lost9319.52 job9319.77 can9320.08 delay9320.17 necessary9320.57 preventative9320.89 care9321.36 and9321.6 terminal9321.77 illness.9322.08 Where9322.89 policy9323.13 measures9323.44 that9323.77 prevent9323.92 terminal9324.17 illness9324.57 like9324.81 Medicaid,9324.97 Medicare,9325.36 and9325.69 social9325.84 security9326.17 are9326.81 facing9326.97 real9327.28 immediate9327.52 risks9327.84 of9328.17 being9328.25 disrupted9328.49 or9328.97 dismantled.9329.13 And9330.13 where9330.29 those9330.37 in9330.61 control9330.77 of9331.01 federal9331.17 funds9331.49 are9331.81 calling9331.97 disabled9332.21 people9332.53 parasites9332.85 and9333.25 preaching9333.41 new9333.81 jacks.9333.97 And9335.17 data9335.41 demonstrates9335.73 that9336.37 disabled9336.77 people9337.09 are9337.41 already9337.49 being9337.81 given9337.97 death9338.37 rather9338.61 than9338.85 access9339.09 that9339.41 states9339.57 where9339.73 this9339.89 law9340.05 is9340.21 enacted.9340.29 The9341.33 20229341.49 Oregon9342.37 death9342.77 with9343.01 dignity9343.17 data9343.57 summary,9343.89 for9344.21 example,9344.37 shows9345.19 that9345.27 449345.51 percent9345.83 of9346.07 people9346.23 choose9346.47 to9346.78 end9346.86 their9347.1 life9347.27 because9347.51 they9347.75 perceive9347.83 themselves9348.23 to9348.55 be9348.7 a9348.78 burden9348.86 on9349.1 their9349.27 family.9349.43 889350.15 percent9350.55 of9350.78 people9350.86 felt9351.1 unable9351.27 to9351.59 access9351.75 the9351.99 activities9352.15 that9352.55 made9352.7 their9352.86 life9353.02 enjoyable.9353.19 Over9354.07 609354.39 percent9354.63 felt9354.94 that9355.19 they9355.27 had9355.43 lost9355.51 dignity9355.75 in9356.07 life.9356.23 And9356.7 69356.94 percent,9357.27 which9357.67 is9357.91 179358.07 people9358.55 in9358.86 2022,9359.1 ended9360.29 their9360.61 life9360.69 because9360.85 treatment9361.17 would9361.49 have9361.65 cost9361.73 too9361.97 much.9362.05 When9362.93 we9363.17 see9363.25 this9363.41 data,9363.57 we9363.89 do9364.13 not9364.21 see9364.37 suffering9364.53 fully9364.93 due9365.25 to9365.41 illness.9365.49 We9366.29 see9366.45 suffering9366.69 due9367.33 to9367.57 lack9367.65 of9367.89 access9368.05 and9368.29 care.9368.45 We9368.93 see9369.09 structural9369.33 coercion9369.73 and9370.13 illegally9370.29 sanctioned9370.69 killing9371.09 of9371.33 disabled9371.41 people.9371.81 And9372.67 the9372.92 United9373.07 Nations9373.31 is9373.72 clear9373.8 that9374.35 using9374.59 disability9374.92 to9375.31 sanction9375.48 MAID9375.88 is9376.19 legally9376.43 authorized9376.99 ableism9377.48 and9378.43 a9378.51 violation9378.67 of9379.15 international9379.23 disability9379.72 rights.9380.11 The9381.23 bill9381.4 does9381.64 not9381.8 exist9381.95 in9382.19 a9382.35 vacuum.9382.43 At9383.31 a9383.48 time9383.56 of9383.8 direct9383.95 care9384.19 workforce9384.43 shortages,9384.99 deep9385.56 federal9385.8 funding9386.11 cuts,9386.35 and9386.99 rising9387.15 national9387.39 eugenics9387.79 rhetoric,9388.11 pushing9388.83 this9389.07 bill9389.31 through9389.63 is9389.87 far9390.11 too9390.27 risky.9390.43 Just9391.15 days9391.31 ago,9391.55 RFK9391.95 Jr9392.27 fired9392.67 thousands9392.91 of9393.23 HHS9393.31 employees9393.87 that9394.19 run9394.43 critical9394.59 programming9394.91 preventing9395.47 terminal9395.87 illness.9396.27 He's9396.91 actively9397.15 dismantling9397.55 the9397.95 administration9398.11 for9398.67 community9398.83 living,9399.23 which9399.75 keeps9399.92 people9400.16 out9400.4 of9400.56 institutional9400.72 settings9401.19 and9401.43 plays9401.51 key9401.83 role9402 in9402.23 preventing9402.31 elder9402.72 and9402.95 disability9403.03 a9403.43 boost9403.51 in9403.92 coercion.9404 The9405.11 result9405.27 of9405.59 these9405.67 actions9405.83 will9406.16 increasingly9406.31 manufacture9406.8 terminal9407.19 illness9407.51 in9407.75 disabled9407.83 people9408.31 and9408.72 fail9408.8 to9409.03 keep9409.11 terminally9409.27 ill9409.67 patients9409.83 safe9410.16 from9410.31 structural9410.56 and9410.95 interpersonal9411.11 coercion.9411.59 I9412.71 assume9412.87 the9413.03 committee,9413.19 at9413.83 least9413.99 revisit9414.15 this9414.55 legislation9414.79 at9415.27 a9415.43 laser9415.51 session9415.83 when9416.15 the9416.31 impacts9416.47 of9416.71 these9416.87 federal9417.03 actions9417.35 are9417.59 more9417.75 understood.9417.99 It9418.63 would9418.79 be9418.95 dangerous9419.19 to9419.51 construct9419.67 such9419.99 an9420.15 infrastructure9420.31 of9420.87 death9420.95 making9421.19 at9421.43 a9421.59 time9421.67 of9421.83 rising9421.91 eugenics9422.23 in9422.63 America.9422.79 Thank9423.99 you.9424.15 I9424.39 appreciate9424.63 the9425.03 time.9425.19 I9426.16 have9426.32 a9426.56 longer9426.72 written9427.03 testimony9427.35 as9427.83 well.9427.92
9430.24 SPEAKER19430.24 -9430.24 Thank9430.24 you.9430.48 If9430.8 you9431.03 haven't9431.11 already,9431.44 you9431.83 can9431.92 still9432.08 submit9432.32 that9432.64 to9432.8 the9432.95 committee.9433.19
9436 Thank9436 you.9436.24 At9436.48 this9436.64 time,9436.88 I9437.35 would9437.44 welcome,9437.75 I9438.95 believe9439.03 in9439.44 person9439.59 Anne9440 Thierault.9440.4
9445.14 Teriel.9445.14 Anne9445.86 Teriel.9446.1 Welcome.9447.7
9459.56 SPEAKER529459.56 -9459.56 Thank9459.56 you9459.88 madam9460.03 chairperson9460.51 and9461.23 committee9461.56 members.9461.88 In9463.8 opposition9464.03 to9464.59 these9464.75 bills,9465 an9466.59 organizing9466.92 principle9467.72 exists9468.43 in9469.15 a9469.4 society9469.56 so9470.11 that9470.54 people9470.7 can9470.94 make9471.26 sense9471.42 of9471.66 change.9471.98 Science9473.34 appears9473.82 to9474.22 be9474.38 the9474.7 current9474.86 organizing9475.66 principle,9476.3 but9477.02 that9477.26 doesn't9477.42 mean9477.82 it9478.14 will9478.22 last9478.46 forever.9478.86 Something9480.06 will9480.46 come9480.7 along9480.86 to9481.26 replace9481.5 it.9481.9 The9482.78 attempt9482.94 to9483.53 legalize9483.61 physician9484.25 assisted9484.74 suicide9485.22 may9485.77 seem9486.01 progressive9486.5 on9487.14 the9487.3 surface,9487.45 but9488.33 in9488.5 reality9488.66 is9489.3 old9489.69 business9490.25 reflecting9491.14 a9491.69 history9491.85 of9492.66 organizations9492.9 through9494.17 generations9494.5 who9495.53 have9495.77 been9495.93 gathering9496.09 replacement9496.74 members9498.03 to9498.35 continue9498.59 the9499.15 obsolete9499.47 mindset,9500.11 the9501.23 death9501.47 wish.9501.79 Their9502.91 hidden9503.23 agenda9503.63 is9504.11 far9504.43 more9504.67 lethal9504.99 than9505.79 the9506.11 swallowing9506.43 of9506.91 pills9507.15 in9507.63 front9507.79 of9508.03 a9508.19 loved9508.27 1.9508.59 They've9509.47 changed9509.79 their9510.35 organizational9510.59 names,9510.91
9515.81 SPEAKER49515.81 -9515.81 their9515.81
9515.97 SPEAKER529515.97 -9515.97 selves.9515.97 Medical9517.33 aid9517.81 and9518.2 dying9518.44 as9519 proponents9519.25 like9519.89 to9520.13 call9520.36 it9520.52 then9520.76 suggests9521.65 that9522.13 you9522.36 would9522.52 be9522.6 legislating9523.26 a9523.82 humanitarian9524.3 or9525.66 human9525.98 right.9526.7 Nothing9527.74 is9528.14 further9528.46 from9528.78 the9529.02 truth.9529.18 We're9530.06 all9530.38 aware9530.54 of9530.94 the9531.1 suffering9531.26 wife9531.82 who9532.54 suffers9532.78 with9533.26 her9533.5 terminally9533.74 ill9534.46 husband9534.7 who9535.66 in9535.9 turn9536.06 suffers9536.38 because9536.86 his9537.26 wife9537.5 is9537.82 suffering.9537.98 The9539.31 existence9539.55 of9540.1 the9540.26 bills9540.42 itself9540.75 suggests9541.63 that9542.1 no9542.42 19542.58 else9542.83 seems9543.55 to9543.86 care,9544.02 but9544.91 that9545.15 sentiment9545.47 is9546.1 far9546.34 from9546.58 the9546.83 truth.9546.91 Society9547.63 does9548.18 care9548.58 if9548.98 given9549.23 the9549.55 chance.9549.78 No.9550.98 What9551.23 you9551.39 are9551.55 trying9551.7 to9552.02 legislate9552.26 is9552.91 autonomy9553.23 rights.9553.78 Does9554.83 a9555.07 person9555.23 have9555.71 the9555.95 right9556.11 to9556.35 kill9556.51 himself?9556.83 I9557.87 assert9558.11 to9558.43 you9558.59 that9558.83 he9559.07 already9559.39 has9559.87 this9560.19 right9560.91 in9561.15 the9561.39 form9561.55 of9561.95 refusing9562.19 food9562.91 and9563.39 water.9563.79 So9564.83 the9565.07 bills9565.23 are9565.71 frivolous.9566.03 You9567.56 could9567.72 say9567.95 that9568.27 what9568.51 you9568.75 want9568.92 to9569.23 do9569.31 is9569.56 to9569.72 give9569.88 the9570.27 physicians9570.51 the9571.31 right9571.48 to9571.64 kill9571.8 patients,9572.27 but9573.23 there's9573.48 nothing9573.8 merciful9574.11 or9574.83 humanitarian9575.08 about9575.95 that.9576.27 Assisted9577.23 suicide9577.72 is9578.43 fundamentally9578.59 incompatible9579.8 with9580.83 the9581.21 physician's9581.37 role9582.01 as9582.49 healer.9582.81 So9584.01 says9584.33 the9584.65 American9584.97 Medical9585.45 Association.9586.01 The9587.61 consequences9587.93 of9588.73 this9588.89 select9589.21 group9589.69 of9590.09 citizens9590.33 in9591.37 and9591.53 out9591.77 of9592.01 the9592.17 state9592.33 pushing9593.21 for9593.69 and9593.93 achieving9594.17 the9594.73 right9594.89 for9595.74 a9596.06 doctor9596.23 to9596.7 use9596.94 agency9597.42 to9598.31 create9598.55 a9598.94 death9599.18 is9600.31 that,9600.55 a,9601.1 many9601.98 terminally9602.39 ill9603.02 people9603.34 who9603.82 are9604.06 alone9604.31 will9605.1 die9605.5 alone.9605.82 No9606.94 loved9607.34 19607.58 holding9607.9 their9608.31 hands.9608.63 Wow.9609.42 That's9609.74 some9610.32 organizing9610.56 principle9611.36 you've9611.84 got9612.16 there.9612.48 B,9613.6 the9614.24 proponents9614.48 of9615.12 more9615.52 death9616.08 legislation9616.48 from9617.6 those9617.76 old9618.16 fashioned9618.4 euthanasia9618.96 societies9620.08 I9620.72 mentioned9620.88 will9621.84 push9622.08 for9622.72 more9623.12 extensive9623.52 legislation9624.38 once9625.09 a9625.5 party9625.65 has9626.14 come9626.38 forward9626.61 about9627.33 the9627.65 law9627.9 being9628.22 unfair9628.61 because9629.42 it9629.73 doesn't9629.9 cover9630.22 his9630.61 own9630.93 condition,9631.25 and9631.73 he's9631.98 decided9632.38 his9632.85 life9633.09 is9633.42 not9633.58 worth9633.81 living.9634.14 And,9635.33 c,9635.73 people9636.69 with9637.01 lingering9637.25 illnesses9637.9 may9639.09 be9639.25 branded9639.64 as9639.96 an9640.28 economic9640.44 liability,9641.16 so9642.2 don't9642.52 think9642.68 you'd9643 be9643.32 doing9643.48 a9643.8 noble9643.96 thing.9644.36 The9645.56 terminal9645.72 patient9646.28 is9646.76 facing9647 despair9647.4 and9648.04 turns9648.2 to9648.6 the9648.76 doctor9648.92 who9649.32 has9649.48 become9649.64 the9650.04 doctor9650.2 of9650.52 despair9650.68 and9651.48 fulfills9651.72 his9652.2 death9652.44 wish.9652.76 Death9653.65 has9653.97 thus9654.2 become9654.52 an9654.84 idol9655.08 and9655.73 the9655.97 citizens'9656.2 idol9656.84 worshipers.9657.25 These9658.36 are9658.6 only9658.76 a9659.08 few9659.17 of9659.41 the9659.49 myriad9659.65 reasons9660.13 why9660.6 the9660.84 law9660.92 is9661.25 unfair9661.41 to9661.89 the9662.05 citizens9662.2 of9662.76 the9662.84 Commonwealth.9663 You9664.2 need9664.44 to9664.76 lead9665 by9665.41 example.9665.82 So9666.7 you9666.94 would9667.1 have9667.26 to9667.5 reject9667.74 these9668.14 bills.9668.38 Thank9669.26 you.9669.42
9670.06 SPEAKER19670.06 -9670.06 Thank9670.06 you.9671.9 This9671.98 time,9672.3 I'd9672.62 like9672.78 to9673.1 welcome,9673.26 doctor9674.06 Lou9674.7 Cohen9675.1 by9676.06 wave9676.3 teams.9676.54
9684.36 Okay.9684.36 Gonna9685.08 move9685.33 on9685.57 to,9685.81 Pamela9687.57 Daley9688.13 and9688.52 Ellen9688.84 Lee.9689.25
9727.23 Welcome.9727.23
9735.64 SPEAKER429735.64 -9735.64 Thank9735.64 you.9735.72 Thank9737.15 you.9737.48
9738.83 SPEAKER249738.83 -9738.83 If9738.83 you9738.92 just9739.07 give9739.31 us9739.48 an9739.64 image,9739.8 no9740.03 worries.9740.27
9740.92 SPEAKER139740.92 -9740.92 We'll9740.92 get9741 it9741.07 closed9741.15 on.9741.48 Okay.9741.73
9756.17 SPEAKER429756.17 -9756.17 Hello.9756.17
9760.57 SPEAKER249760.57 -9760.57 Okay.9760.57 I'm9761.61 Ellen9762.01 Lee9762.33 and9762.9 I9763.06 live9763.22 with9763.45 serious9763.61 illness,9764.01 a9764.65 spinal9764.73 cord9765.14 disorder,9765.38 and9765.93 use9766.09 a9766.33 power9766.42 wheelchair.9766.73 I9767.93 initially9768.25 supported9768.9 this9769.69 type9769.93 of9770.25 legislation9770.5 until9772.5 I9772.9 had9772.98 second9773.22 thoughts9773.61 learning9773.93 more9774.33 about9774.57 it.9774.9 I9776.49 learned9776.65 that9776.89 it's9776.97 really9777.37 all9777.69 about9777.85 disability.9778.41 The9780.17 top9780.41 59780.73 reasons9780.97 in9781.29 Oregon9781.45 involve9782.25 depending9782.65 on9783.05 others,9783.29 feeling9784.01 like9784.41 a9784.65 burden9784.73 and9785.21 shame,9785.53 loss9786.17 of9786.41 dignity.9786.57 We9788.17 all9788.49 have9788.89 inherent9789.53 dignity9790.33 and9790.97 do9791.21 not9791.37 lose9791.69 it9792.01 when9792.55 we9792.86 become9792.94 ill9793.42 and9793.75 disabled.9793.98 Bringing9795.67 dignity9796.15 into9796.78 this9797.18 only9797.42 increases9797.83 feelings9798.47 of9798.86 shame9799.1 and9800.31 burden9800.55 for9801.1 choosing9801.34 to9801.83 live.9801.98 Countless9803.98 times9804.72 I've9804.96 been9805.44 told,9805.68 if9806.4 I9806.56 were9806.64 you,9806.88 I9807.6 I'd9807.84 wanna9808 kill9808.32 myself.9808.56 Every9810.96 day,9811.36 I9811.68 face9811.92 an9812.24 uphill9812.48 battle9812.88 to9813.36 be9813.44 included9813.68 in9814.16 a9814.32 society9814.48 that9815.04 determines9815.28 worth9815.76 based9816.08 on9816.32 abilities,9816.6 a9817.65 culture9817.81 that9818.2 conditions9818.36 us9818.85 to9819.08 value9819.25 productivity9819.73 above9820.36 all9820.69 else,9820.93 judgments9822.05 abound9822.69 about9823.73 my9824.05 ability9824.2 to9824.69 have9824.77 a9824.93 life9825.08 worth9825.33 living.9825.57 I9827.73 had9827.97 a9828.28 scary9828.44 experience9829.33 of9830.05 being9830.13 in9830.5 septic9830.58 shock,9831.7 told9832.02 I9832.26 might9832.42 die9832.74 and9833.14 then9833.38 pressured9833.62 by9834.9 a9835.02 doctor9835.14 to9835.54 get9835.7 a9835.94 DNR.9836.02 I9838.5 was9838.74 so9838.98 sick9839.38 and9839.7 exhausted.9840.02 I9840.66 I9841.22 thought9841.46 maybe9842.18 I9842.58 should9842.74 just9842.9 let9843.7 go.9843.94 I9846.19 recall9846.27 being9846.91 shocked9847.23 when9847.86 I9848.02 was9848.19 essentially9848.43 encouraged9849.15 to9850.83 die.9850.99 I9853.15 can't9853.39 imagine9853.7 why9854.19 there9854.35 would9854.51 be9854.67 any9854.83 other9854.99 reason9855.31 for9855.55 this9855.78 other9856.1 than9856.35 a9856.59 presumed9856.67 low9857.15 quality9857.39 of9857.78 life9857.94 because9858.27 of9858.59 my9858.67 disability9858.83 and9859.39 wheelchair9859.55 use.9860.1 I9861.15 I9862.08 was9862.24 weak,9862.4 it9862.8 was9862.96 hard9863.12 to9863.36 breathe,9863.52 but9864 I9864.24 was9864.4 able9864.64 to9864.96 assert9865.12 my9865.52 desire9865.68 to9866.24 have9866.4 life9866.56 support9866.88 and9867.28 I'm9867.52 still9867.68 haunted9868 by9868.96 the9869.2 thought9869.36 of9869.6 what9869.76 might9869.92 have9870.08 happened9870.32 if9871.04 I9871.28 had9871.44 just9871.68 gone9872 along9872.16 with9872.48 this9872.64 doctor's9872.88 suggestion9873.92 of9875.28 what9875.52 he9875.84 they9876.48 thought9876.64 was9877 best.9877.25 If9878.84 I9879.08 was9879.17 just9879.49 too9879.73 worn9879.97 out9880.2 from9880.36 justifying9880.6 my9881.25 existence,9881.33 I9882.13 would9882.28 not9882.44 be9882.68 here9882.84 with9883 you9883.17 today.9883.33 People9884.84 in9885.25 health9885.49 care9885.73 are9885.97 subject9886.13 to9886.52 the9886.68 same9886.84 ableist9887.25 biases9887.73 so9888.76 prevalent9889 in9889.49 our9889.56 culture.9889.73 Recent9890.2 Harvard9890.6 studies9891 show9891.41 that9891.65 over9891.81 829892.09 percent9892.41 of9892.89 doctors9893.13 perceive9893.69 people9894.01 with9894.33 disabilities9894.49 to9895.53 have9895.69 a9895.93 worse9896.01 quality9896.33 of9896.65 life9896.81 and9897.29 that9897.45 they9897.69 often9898.09 do9898.49 not9898.73 want9898.89 to9899.13 care9899.29 for9899.53 them.9899.61 The9901.05 National9901.21 Council9901.53 on9902.01 Disability9902.49 study9903.21 found9903.69 that9904.41 assisted9904.92 suicide9905.24 laws9905.72 are9906.43 rife9906.67 with9907.08 dangers.9907.31 The9908.27 safeguards9908.43 are9909.08 ineffective9909.4 and9910.59 oversight9910.83 and,9911.95 reporting9912.83 of9913.95 abuses9914.11 and9914.59 mistakes9914.83 are9915.31 absent.9915.56 Assisted9918.03 suicide9918.51 harms9919.07 the9919.39 doctor9919.55 patient9919.87 relationship.9920.27 I9920.83 want9920.99 my9921.15 doctors9921.31 fighting9921.79 for9922.11 me9922.27 and9922.59 my9922.75 life.9922.91 I9923.63 don't9923.79 want9923.95 to9924.19 fear9924.27 going9924.59 to9924.83 them9924.91 or9925.15 to9925.31 the9925.39 ER9925.63 to9925.87 get9926.03 care9926.19 and9926.43 whether9926.67 they're9926.99 going9927.15 to9927.39 raise9927.55 this9928.11 as9928.35 an9928.51 option.9928.67
9931.85 Overwhelmed9931.85 by9932.89 limited9933.13 or9933.69 no9934 options,9934.25 threats9934.89 to9935.28 life9935.44 saving9935.69 care,9936.08 offered9937.28 suicide9937.69 approval9938.33 versus9939.28 suicide9939.77 prevention9940.33 when9942.08 most9942.41 distressed,9942.89 being9944.99 seen9945.31 as9945.55 better9945.79 off9946.11 dead?9946.35 What9946.99 kind9947.23 of9947.47 choice9947.55 is9947.95 that?9948.11 When9950.11 we9950.35 lack9950.59 equity9950.91 in9951.31 health9951.47 care9951.71 or9952.03 adequate9952.27 supports9952.83 and9953.31 services,9953.55 when9954.43 society9954.67 makes9955.31 us9955.55 feel9955.79 like9956.03 a9956.27 burden9956.43 just9958.27 for9958.67 being9958.91 alive.9959.23 There9961.05 this9961.36 is9961.6 no9961.76 fair9962 choice.9962.25 It's9963.05 a9963.36 false9963.52 1.9963.92 Look9966.33 at9966.56 all9966.73 the9966.89 cuts9966.97 on9967.28 the9967.44 table.9967.6 I've9969.44 been9969.68 at9970 the9970.17 state9970.25 house9970.48 twice9970.81 recently9971.13 fighting9971.92 for9972.25 PCA9972.56 services.9973.13 We9974.91 have9975.15 threats9975.31 to9975.79 Social9976.03 Security,9976.43 Medicare,9976.99 MassHealth,9977.71 cutting9979.07 housing9979.47 funding,9979.95 Meals9980.83 on9981.15 Wheels9981.39 getting9982.19 gutted.9982.51 And9983.79 now9984.03 I'm9984.27 fighting9984.43 also9984.83 to9985.15 keep9985.31 suicide9985.47 assisted9986.03 suicide9986.43 out9987.07 of9987.23 health9987.31 care9987.63 where9987.95 it9988.11 doesn't9988.27 belong.9988.59 These9990.43 these9990.89 bills9991.13 are9991.25 about9991.36 ending9991.76 lives,9992.08 not9992.65 taking9992.81 care9993.13 of9993.44 them.9993.52 Our9994.48 society9994.73 fears9995.36 becoming9996.17 sick,9996.73 older,9997.05 and9997.44 disabled9997.6 then9998.17 devalues9998.4 people9999.05 to9999.28 the9999.44 point9999.6 where9999.84 they're10000.08 seen10000.25 as10000.56 better10000.81 off10001.05 dead.10001.28 Instead10002.17 of10002.56 offering10002.73 suicide10003.13 prevention,10003.68 we'll10005.74 offer10005.98 assistance10006.3 by10006.78 physicians10007.02 to10007.58 die.10007.74 What10008.7 are10008.86 we10009.02 doing?10009.18 I'm10010.7 opposed10011.18 to10011.66 these10011.9 bills10012.14 due10013.18 to10013.34 the10013.5 inevitable10013.74 abuse10014.3 and10014.7 harm10014.86 that10015.1 will10015.26 come10015.42 with10015.66 legalized10015.82 assisted10016.38 suicide.10016.78 Let's10017.34 be10017.66 realistic10017.82 about10018.33 the10018.49 dangers.10018.73 We10019.2 live10019.36 in10019.52 a10019.76 real10019.84 world10020.08 where10020.49 there10020.81 won't10020.89 be10021.13 true10021.28 oversight,10021.52 where10022.41 people10022.65 will10022.97 get10023.13 hurt.10023.44 This10024.17 is10024.41 not10024.57 the10024.97 time10025.13 to10025.44 push10025.6 this10025.84 through.10026.08 Think10026.81 of10027.13 the10027.28 implications10027.44 in10028.17 the10028.33 real10028.41 world.10028.73 How10029.52 will10029.69 you10029.92 protect10030.17 me?10030.97 I'm10031.84 terrified.10032.08 People10034.46 already10034.7 being10035.18 harmed10035.82 in10036.14 other10036.3 states.10036.62
10039.34 This10039.34 will10039.58 only10039.74 perpetuate10039.98 deadly10040.62 discrimination10041.1 against10041.9 ill10042.3 older10042.62 adults10042.94 and10043.42 the10043.58 disabled10043.74 who10044.14 are10044.38 already10044.54 at10045.58 high10045.82 risk10046.14 for10046.46 abuse.10046.7 This10047.3 is10047.53 just10047.61 too10048.17 risky.10048.98 The10049.85 consequences10050.09 are10050.98 too10051.14 great10051.45 and10051.93 they10052.09 cannot10052.25 be10052.73 undone.10052.98 We10054.5 must10054.73 protect10055.06 vulnerable10055.45 and10056.25 marginalized10056.5 people10057.22 like10058.17 me.10058.42
10061.01 Hi.10061.01 The10061.25 I10061.73 just10061.89 wanted10062.05 to10062.29 say10062.37 these10062.77 bills10063.01 are10063.49 not10064.21 in10064.45 the10064.53 common10064.69 good.10065.09 It's10065.41 too10065.65 divisive.10065.97 Please,10067.73 it's10068.05 not10068.29 the10068.53 time10068.61 to10068.85 push10069.01 this10069.25 through.10069.41 Thank10069.81 you.10069.97
10071.57 SPEAKER1510071.57 -10071.57 Do10071.57 I10071.81 have10071.89 more10072.13 than10072.29 4510072.53 seconds?10073.09
10073.81 SPEAKER110073.81 -10073.81 So10073.81 you10074.37 had10074.61 610074.85 minutes10075.09 as10075.41 a10075.65 panel.10075.73
10076.5 SPEAKER2410076.5 -10076.5 I10076.5 didn't10076.67 talk10076.75 for10077.15 610077.31 minutes.10077.55 You10077.94 spoke10078.18 for10078.42 510078.67 minutes10078.9 and10079.31 twice10079.63
10080.1 SPEAKER5310080.1 -10080.1 I10080.1 know10080.18 I10080.34 didn't.10080.42
10080.9 SPEAKER2410080.9 -10080.9 I10080.9 know10081.06 I10081.23 didn't10081.31 because10081.55
10081.94 SPEAKER110081.94 -10081.94 just10081.94 I'm10082.26 gonna10082.42 move10082.58 on10082.82 now10082.98 at10083.15 this10083.23 time.10083.47 I'm10083.63 gonna10083.78 give10084.02 you10084.26 your10084.42 full10084.58 310084.75 minutes10084.98 and10085.31 ask10085.47 them10085.7 to10085.86 start,10085.94 and10086.26 I'm10086.42 gonna10086.5 remind10086.82 people10087.15 that10087.47 when10087.63 you10087.86 sign10088.02 up,10088.18 the10088.34 notice10088.58 tells10089.23 you10089.55 that10089.78 you10089.94 have10090.1 610090.26 minutes10090.5 as10090.82 a10090.9 panel.10090.98 But10091.52 go10091.76 ahead.10091.92 You're10092.16 welcome.10092.4 Okay.10092.8 Thank10093.12 you.10093.36
10094.16 SPEAKER1510094.16 -10094.16 Thank10094.16 you10094.4 for10094.56 hearing10095.2 me.10095.6
10096.88 SPEAKER5310096.88 -10096.88 710096.88 states10097.28 with10098.56 legalized10098.96 assisted10099.6 suicide10100.08 have10100.96 already10101.2 claimed10101.6 legal.10102.16
10104.89 710104.89 states10105.2 with10106.4 legalized10106.81 assisted10107.44 suicide10107.92 have10108.97 abandoned10109.28 initial10110 safeguards10110.56 to10111.36 their10111.52 bills10111.76 in10112.65 order10112.81 to10113.13 expand10113.36 a10114.08 sue10114.16 suicide10114.89 laws.10115.6
10117.05 SPEAKER2410117.05 -10117.05 They've10117.05 added10117.36
10119.57 SPEAKER5310119.57 -10119.57 reduced10119.57 waiting10120.05 periods.10120.53 They've10121.25 they've10121.73 allowed10122.21 registered10122.93 nurses10123.65 to10124.53 prescribe10124.77 the10125.33 drugs10125.49 in10125.97 addition10126.13 to10126.53 the10126.69 physicians.10126.85 They've10128.05 removed10128.45 residency10129.01 requirements10129.81 and10130.61 sunset10130.93 clauses.10131.49 In10132.95 Oregon,10133.27 thankfully,10134.08 their10135.27 request10135.59 to10136.08 euthanize10136.24 patients10136.88 with10137.35 dementia10137.75 or10138.48 Alzheimer's10138.72 did10139.35 not10139.67 pass.10140 You10141.92 have10142.16 to10142.4 ask10142.56 yourself,10142.88 how10144.16 many10144.4 people10144.72 will10145.03 start10145.19 to10145.51 believe10145.67 that10146.48 any10146.72 amount10147.03 of10147.35 discomfort10147.51 is10148.28 not10148.44 tolerable?10148.92 Then10150.52 where10150.92 are10151.16 we?10151.4 I10153.24 spoke10153.48 with10153.72 a10153.96 mass10154.12 senator10154.36 who10155.4 assured10155.56 me10156.04 that10156.2 such10156.44 add10156.76 ons10157 would10157.72 not10158.04 be10158.28 allowed10158.52 in10158.84 a10159 Massachusetts10159.16 bill.10160.04 I10161.75 don't10161.92 believe10162.08 that10162.48 he10162.72 understood10162.88 the10164 enormous10164.23 pressure10164.72 the10165.03 legislator10165.27 would10165.92 be10166.08 under10166.31 the10167.11 legislature10167.35 would10168.16 be10168.31 under10168.48 to10168.88 remove10169.11 initial10169.75 safeguards.10170.31 It10171.75 would10171.92 be10172.08 a10172.23 nightmare10172.48 of10173.67 life10174 versus10174.23 death10174.8 decisions10175.11 the10176.23 state10176.4 would10176.72 need10176.98 to10177.14 take10177.38 on10179.62 like10179.86 we've10180.02 seen10180.26 in10180.42 Canada10180.66 where10182.42 young10183.62 adults10183.94 with10184.34 eating10184.58 disorders10184.9 make10186.42 themselves10186.66 so10187.3 sick10187.7 that10188.42 they10188.74 qualify10188.98 and10190.02 are10190.26 offered10190.58 medication.10190.98 Is10192.63 Massachusetts10193.02 ready10193.91 to10194.23 take10194.47 on10194.7 a10195.42 situation10195.67 like10196.23 that?10196.47 Because10198.55 it10198.78 will10198.94 happen.10199.18 With10201.02 with10201.58 healthcare10201.75 in10202.39 inequity10203.34 as10204.15 it10204.39 is,10204.55 these10205.98 bills10206.22 will10206.54 endanger10206.78 far10207.26 more10207.5 people10207.74 than10208.06 they'll10208.22 help.10208.46 You10210.22 pass10210.46 these10210.78 laws10211.02 to10211.42 satisfy10211.66 the10212.22 lucky10212.38 ones10212.7 who10213.58 want10213.74 to10213.98 make10214.06 a10214.3 choice10214.46 between10214.86 living10215.34 and10215.82 dying.10216.06 That's10217.26 fine.10217.74 But10218.64 most10218.95 people10219.27 will10219.67 never10219.83 be10220.16 that10220.32 privileged.10220.64 I10222.16 won't10222.4 be10222.72 asked10222.88 if10223.75 I10224 want10224.08 an10224.32 ex10224.48 exorbitantly10224.8 expensive10225.83 lifesaving10226.4 operation.10227.35 I10228.48 won't10228.64 be10228.88 asked10229.03 that10229.35 question.10229.52 What10230.64 I'll10230.88 get10230.95 is,10231.36 do10231.68 you10232 want10232.08 to10232.32 sign10232.4 a10232.72 DNR10232.88 or10233.68 have10234.16 you10234.4 considered10234.56 assisted10235.04 suicide?10235.52 I10238 spoke10238.24 to10238.4 a10238.52 woman10238.64 in10238.96 the10239.12 statehouse10239.2 last10239.76 year10240 at10240.24 a10240.4 rally10240.48 for10240.8 compassionate10240.96 choices.10241.6 I10242.64 was10242.88 there10243.04 to10243.28 protest.10243.44 This10244.4 woman10244.75 came10244.92 up10245.08 to10245.31 me10245.48 and10245.72 said10245.88 that10246.43 she10246.67 has10246.83 stage10247 410247.31 lung10247.64 cancer10247.88 and10248.27 that10248.43 she10248.67 doesn't10248.83 wanna10249.08 die.10249.4 She10250.27 wants10250.51 more10250.83 than10251 anything10251.23 to10251.56 live10251.72 long10252.03 enough10252.19 to10252.51 meet10252.67 her10253.23 unborn10253.48 grandchild.10254.35 She10255.88 said10256.11 she10256.43 took10256.59 great10256.9 offense10257.22 that10258.1 I10258.34 would10258.5 fight10258.74 against10259.06 her10259.54 right10259.78 to10260.02 choose10260.26 when10260.58 to10260.9 die.10261.06 I10262.42 replied,10262.74 I10263.46 hear10263.7 you,10264.02 but10264.74 I10265.06 wanna10265.22 live10265.54 too.10265.86 And10266.58 your10266.9 desire10267.22 to10267.78 have10267.94 that10268.18 medication10268.42 on10269.54 your10269.7 nightstand10269.94 ready10270.98 to10271.44 go10271.69 infringes10272.33 on10273.05 my10273.28 right10273.6 to10274.57 live10274.81 without10275.36 having10275.69 to10276 look10276.17 over10276.33 my10276.57 shoulder10276.81 every10277.2 time10277.44 I10277.6 go10277.77 to10277.93 the10278.08 ER.10278.33 This10279.52 is10279.77 a10279.93 dangerous10280.08 bill.10280.73 It's10281.36 not10281.69 designed10282 to10282.73 be10282.89 compatible10283.13 with10284.25 underprivileged10284.57 or10285.68 vulnerable10286.08 people10286.72 and10287.68 all10288.16 of10288.32 us10288.64 will10289.04 be10289.28 vulnerable10289.44 people10290.08 if10291.2 we10291.44 live10291.6 long10291.92 enough.10292.24 Please10293.52 think10294.16 hard.10294.48 Think10295.28 of10295.52 all10295.76 your10295.92 constituents.10296.16
10298.83 Our10298.83 lives10299 are10299.4 in10299.56 your10299.8 hands10300.03 and10300.59 are10301.08 you10301.31 ready10301.56 to10302.03 take10302.11 that10302.43 on?10302.75
10305.23 SPEAKER110305.23 -10305.23 Thank10305.23 you.10305.48
10306.03 SPEAKER5310306.03 -10306.03 Thank10306.03 you.10306.19
10306.92 SPEAKER110306.92 -10306.92 Thank10306.92 you10307.15 both.10307.4 At10309.56 this10309.8 time,10310.11 I10310.67 would,10310.83 actually10311.72 senator10312.11 Collins,10312.59 I10313.72 will10313.8 welcome10315.49 you.10315.89
10333.23 SPEAKER5410333.23 -10333.23 Thank10333.23 you,10333.47 chair10335.47 Decker10336.02 and10336.5 chair10337.06 Driscoll10337.31 and10337.78 members10338.18 of10338.58 the10338.67 committee.10338.82 I'm10340.18 here10340.34 this10340.74 morning10340.9 to10341.31 testify10341.55 in10342.58 support10342.82 of10343.55 s10344.02 1410344.5 8910345.15 and10346.1 h10347.06 2310347.22 91,10347.78 an10348.66 act10348.9 requiring10349.22 automated10350.26 external10350.9 defibrillators10351.38 at10351.94 sporting10352.18 events.10352.5 The10354.18 current10354.34 law10354.66 requires10354.9 that10355.46 all10356.18 health10356.5 clubs10356.66 have10357.06 at10357.22 least10357.38 110357.62 AED10358.58 at10360.5 the10360.66 facility10360.82
10363.58 and10363.58 110363.66 volunteer10364.06 present10365.1 who10365.98 has10366.14 been10366.38 trained10366.45 in10366.85 cardiopulmonary10367.33 resuscitation10369.58 and10370.61 an10370.85 AED10371.02 operation10371.66 in10372.77 accordance10372.94 with10373.33 standards10373.58 set10373.9 by10374.14 the10374.3 American10374.38 Red10375.32 Heart10375.64 and10375.8 Red10376.12 Cross10376.36 Associations.10376.76 This10378.6 legislation10378.84 maintains10380.12 that10381.32 requirements10382.44 while10383.16 expanding10383.48 critical10384.92 areas10385.4 of10385.72 the10385.88 law10385.96 to10386.2 ensure10386.28 that10386.6 all10386.76 people,10386.92 especially10387.24 children,10387.72 who10388.76 are10388.92 playing10389.16 a10389.48 sport10389.64 or10390.12 engaging10390.36 in10391.11 any10391.35 athletic10391.6 activity10392.08 are10393.03 not10393.19 at10393.44 risk10393.52 of10393.75 serious10393.92 cardiac10394.32 arrest.10394.8 The10396.64 addition10396.8 of10397.11 facility10397.27 to10398 the10398.16 definitions10398.32 ensures10399.03 that10399.52 public10400 stadiums10400.48 and10400.95 gymnasiums10401.19 where10402.24 a10402.48 large10402.56 majority10402.8 of10403.27 events10403.52 take10404 place10404.16 are10404.48 required10404.64 to10405.35 follow10405.52 these10405.92 mandates.10406.08 It10407.49 expands10407.65 on10408.13 current10408.29 measures10408.61 to10409.81 ensure10409.97 the10410.29 facilities10410.45 create10411.41 guidelines10411.73 and10412.21 action10412.45 plans10412.77 on10413.41 the10413.65 next10413.73 steps10413.97 if10415.01 volunteers10415.25 are10415.73 not10415.81 immediately10416.05 available.10416.45 It10417.49 requires10417.73 the10418.53 operator10418.77 of10419.25 the10419.41 facility10419.49 to10420.37 identify10420.53 another10421.09 individual10421.49 who10422.14 has10422.3 been10422.53 properly10422.61 trained10423.09 to10423.81 administer10423.98 the10425.09 AED10425.33 before10426.22 participation10426.77 resumes.10427.65 It10428.53 also10428.77 requires10429.09 that10429.58 the10429.73 location10429.9 of10430.45 an10430.61 AED10430.77 is10431.33 posted10431.42 and10431.98 labeled10432.22 properly10432.53 to10433.25 ensure10433.33 swift10433.81 action.10434.06 It's10435.71 crucial10435.95 that10436.19 we10436.43 expand10436.59 the10436.91 scope10436.99 of10438.27 this10438.43 legislation10439.47 to10440.75 maintain10440.99 the10441.47 health10441.63 and10441.87 safety10442.03 of10442.35 our10442.43 commonwealth.10442.59 These10443.47 standards10443.71 will10444.03 ensure10444.11 that10444.43 individuals10444.59 can10445.07 act10445.23 quickly10445.39 to10445.71 save10445.87 lives.10446.19 It10446.83 is10446.99 crucial10447.15 that10447.55 we10447.71 take10447.87 action10448.03 on10448.27 this10448.35 legislation.10448.51 I10450.27 know10450.35 know10450.45 that10450.61 we've10450.77 been10450.85 make10450.94 made10451.42 great10451.66 strides10451.9 here10452.3 in10452.38 the10452.53 Commonwealth,10452.61 and10453.5 this10453.66 would10453.9 further10454.14 in10455.01 that10455.17 area.10455.74 You10457.25 know,10457.42 we10457.66 we10458.14 know10458.45 that10458.85 issues10459.9 affecting10460.38 young10460.85 people10461.09 aren't10462.14 always10462.45 identifiable,10463.09 and10464.14 so10464.38 people10464.61 may10464.94 be10465.09 participating10465.85 in10466.65 sports10466.81 or10467.77 strenuous10468.41 activity,10468.89 and,10470.25 either10471.61 underlying10471.93 issues10472.49 or10472.81 undiagnosed10473.29 issues10474.17 can,10474.73 bubble10476.01 up10476.33 and10476.81 create10477.21 serious10477.45 problems.10478.01 And,10478.97 you10479.45 know,10479.61 I10479.85 know10480.01 some10480.25 of10480.41 the,10480.49 issues10481.5 and10481.83 concerns10481.99 when10482.47 we10482.63 deal10482.78 with10483.02 new10483.58 mandates,10483.91 it10484.94 has10485.02 to10485.26 do10485.42 with10485.58 funding.10485.75 I10486.39 think10486.47 maybe10486.7 with10487.34 respect10487.58 to,10487.83 the10489.18 public10489.34 health10489.67 funding10490.86 and,10491.5 trusts10492.7 that10493.26 are10493.42 set10494.06 up10494.23 in10494.47 existence,10494.63 we10495.1 may10495.26 make10495.5 that10495.67 available10495.83 for10496.31 municipalities10496.55 and10497.24 others,10497.48 if10498.52 there10498.76 are10499.08 funding10499.24 issues.10499.72 But10500.28 with10500.52 that,10500.68 I10500.84 ask10501.08 for,10501.24 the10502.76 committee10502.92 to10503.32 look10503.48 upon10503.72 this10503.96 favorably10504.12 as10504.68 you10504.76 had10504.84 last10505.08 session.10505.24 And10506.44 thank10506.84 you10507.08 very10507.24 much10507.4 for10507.64 the10507.8 time.10507.88 Happy10508.04 to10508.36 take10508.44 any10508.6 questions.10508.84
10510.2 SPEAKER110510.2 -10510.2 Thank10510.2 you,10510.52 senator.10510.68
10511.34 SPEAKER5410511.34 -10511.34 Alright.10511.34 Thank10511.55 you.10511.75
10512.31 SPEAKER110512.31 -10512.31 Thanks.10512.31 Okay.10514.47 At10514.94 this10515.1 time,10515.26 I10515.82 will10516.15 welcome,10516.55 Isabelle10517.98 Carr.10518.55 Isabella?10520.94
10529.26 Thank10529.26 you,10529.5 Scott.10529.82
10534.54 SPEAKER5510534.54 -10534.54 Good10534.54 morning.10534.78 Or,10535.5 oh,10535.82 I10536.2 guess,10536.44 just10536.68 afternoon.10537.17
10539.56 Thank10539.56 you10539.81 so10540.05 much,10540.13 chairwoman10540.44 Decker10540.92 and10541.25 chairman10541.49 Driscoll10541.89 and10542.36 the10542.6 rest10542.68 of10542.92 the10543 committee10543.17 for10543.56 having10543.73 us10544.13 here10544.28 today.10544.52 My10545.25 name10545.41 is10545.56 Isabella10545.65 Carr,10546.2 and10546.6 I'm10546.84 in10547.25 my10547.41 final10547.56 year10547.89 at10548.13 Harvard10548.28 Divinity10548.6 School.10549.08 I10550.58 live10550.66 in10550.9 Arlington10551.06 and10551.86 I'm10552.18 a10552.5 death10552.66 doula,10552.9 a10553.62 scholar,10553.78 an10554.58 advocate10554.82 and10555.22 I'm10555.46 here10555.62 to10556.02 testify10556.34 in10556.82 strong10556.98 support10557.3 of10557.62 the10557.7 end10557.78 of10557.94 life10558.1 options10558.34 act.10558.66 So10560.02 I'm10560.26 originally10560.5 from10560.98 Portland,10561.38 Oregon10561.86 where10562.5 medical10562.74 aid10563.14 in10563.3 dying10563.46 has10563.86 been10564.02 safe10564.35 and10564.76 legal,10565.16 a10566.27 safe10566.44 and10566.68 legal10566.83 option10567.16 since10567.48 1997.10567.72 I10569 consider10569.16 myself10569.56 very10569.95 fortunate10570.19 to10570.68 have10570.83 been10571.08 from10571.24 Oregon.10571.48 And10572.68 I10572.83 consider10573 myself10573.4 very10573.88 fortunate10574.19 to10574.68 now10575.32 to10575.48 live10575.64 in10575.8 Massachusetts,10575.95 a10578.34 a10578.42 global10578.58 leader10579.06 in10579.38 education10579.54 and10580.02 health10580.26 care10580.5 innovation,10580.66 and10582.18 the10582.34 birthplace10582.5 of10582.98 American10583.14 Liberty,10583.62 which10584.02 has10584.26 fought10584.34 for10584.66 25010584.82 years,10585.78 very10586.34 soon,10586.66 to10587.78 protect10587.94 its10588.26 citizens'10588.5 rights10588.9 and10589.14 dignity.10589.3 Yet10590.67 without10590.83 access10591.31 to10591.63 MAID,10591.78 we10592.02 are10592.1 denying10592.26 terminally10592.67 ill10593.23 individuals10593.55 in10594.1 our10594.26 communities10594.5 a10595.06 fundamental10595.15 right,10595.7 the10596.34 right10596.5 to10596.67 die10596.83 on10596.98 their10597.15 own10597.39 terms10597.63 free10598.02 from10598.34 unbearable10598.58 suffering.10599.15 As10600.34 an10600.58 apprentice10600.75 in10601.23 doula,10601.39 I10601.86 worked10601.94 with10602.18 a10602.36 client10602.52 whose10603.32 cancer10603.56 had10603.96 returned10604.12 and10604.52 metastasized.10604.68 She10605.96 was10606.12 only10606.28 3810606.52 years10606.92 old10607.16 with10607.96 210608.2 small10608.36 children,10608.68 a10609.32 husband,10609.48 a10610.04 career,10610.2 and10610.84 a10611.08 life10611.16 ahead10611.48 of10611.64 her10611.8 that10612.04 she10612.12 desperately10612.36 wanted10612.92 to10613.32 live.10613.48 But10614.28 she10614.52 was10614.6 given10614.76 less10615.08 than10615.24 610615.58 months.10615.74 She10616.69 decided10616.94 with10617.42 her10617.58 doctors10617.74 and10618.3 family10618.69 support10619.09 to10619.58 stop10619.74 all10619.98 treatment.10620.14 She10621.17 did10621.33 not10621.58 want10621.74 to10622.06 be10622.14 forced10622.38 to10622.77 suffer10622.94 away10623.74 from10623.98 her10624.22 family,10624.38 hooked10625.09 up10625.33 to10625.5 machines,10625.66 and10626.22 unable10626.45 to10626.94 cuddle10627.09 her10627.5 babies.10627.74
10631.18 She10631.18 wanted10631.34 another10631.74 option.10632.14 And10632.94 throughout10633.18 many10633.5 conversations10633.82 with10634.62 us,10634.7 her10635.1 doula10635.34 team,10635.66 her10636.3 family,10636.54 and10636.94 her10637.1 care10637.26 providers,10637.5 she10638.3 decided10638.54 to10638.86 pursue10638.94 MAID10639.34 and10639.74 spend10639.98 the10640.22 time10640.3 she10640.62 had10640.78 left10641.02 enjoying10641.42 her10641.82 life10641.98 and10642.54 preparing10642.78 for10643.24 what10643.4 came10643.56 next.10643.72 We10644.68 supported10645 her10645.32 as10645.56 she10645.64 as10646.27 she10646.44 initiated10646.6 the10647.08 process10647.16 and10647.64 navigated10647.8 the10648.35 substantial10648.6 and10649.48 numerous10649.64 safeguards,10650.27 including10651.4 waiting10651.88 periods,10652.27 written10652.83 and10653.16 oral10653.4 requests,10653.72 second10654.27 opinions,10654.68 and10655.16 a10655.32 psychosocial10655.48 assessment.10656.03 We10657.24 helped10657.4 her10657.64 plan10657.8 for10658.04 her10658.28 death10658.36 and10658.76 found10659.08 ways,10659.4 as10660.04 difficult10660.2 and10660.6 heartbreaking10660.84 as10661.4 it10661.56 was,10661.64 to10662.36 have10662.6 her10662.76 family10663 participate10663.4 in10663.88 the10663.96 process.10664.2 She10665.24 died10665.4 shortly10665.72 after,10666.12 aided10666.6 by10667 maid,10667.24 comfortably10667.96 at10668.52 home,10668.68 surrounded10669.48 by10669.91 the10670.07 people10670.23 she10670.7 loved10670.94 the10671.19 most.10671.35 If10672.86 I10673.1 leave10673.19 you10673.42 with10673.58 nothing10673.83 else,10674.39 let10675.02 it10675.27 be10675.5 this.10675.75 Maid10677.42 is10677.83 not10678.15 about10678.47 choosing10678.86 death.10679.58 It10680.63 is10680.86 not10681.02 suicide.10682.08 It's10682.88 about10683.12 giving10683.44 people10683.76 who10684.32 meet10684.56 these10684.88 rigorous10685.12 criteria10685.92 standards10686.4 choices10687.44 about10688.72 how10689.2 they10689.44 die.10689.76 It10690.56 is10690.8 not10691.04 choosing10691.6 death10692.16 but10692.72 a10692.88 different10693.04 process.10693.44 And10694.72 when10694.96 death10695.28 is10695.52 imminent10695.84 and10696.48 inevitable,10696.72 Massachusetts10698.05 has10698.76 the10699 opportunity10699.17 to10699.73 pass10699.89 a10700.2 law10700.36 that10700.76 would10701 unabashedly10701.25 affirm10702.13 life10702.92 and10703.81 give10704.05 its10704.44 residents10704.68 with10705.08 terminal10705.25 illnesses10705.73 a10706.68 choice.10706.84 I10707.56 respectfully10707.81 ask10708.36 that10708.6 you10708.76 move10708.92 the10709.25 end10709.32 of10709.56 life10709.65 options10709.97 act10710.36 act10710.64 forward10710.8 quickly10711.2 and10711.68 favorably10711.92 out10712.32 of10712.48 the10712.64 committee.10712.8 Thank10713.2 you10713.44 for10713.6 your10713.68 time.10713.84
10714.8 SPEAKER110714.8 -10714.8 Thank10714.8 you.10715.04 This10716.32 time,10716.56 I10716.88 would10717.04 welcome10717.28 Angelina10717.84 Ramirez.10718.4
10731.66 SPEAKER5610731.66 -10731.66 Good10731.66 morning,10731.9 and10732.3 thank10732.53 you10732.69 for10732.85 the10733.1 opportunity.10733.25 My10734.3 name10734.45 is10734.61 Angelina10734.85 Ramirez.10735.42 I'm10736.06 the10736.22 CEO10736.45 at10736.85 Stavros10737.1 Center10737.58 for10737.82 Independent10738.27 Living,10738.59 110740.11 of,10740.35 110742.67 of10742.83 the10742.91 oldest10743.07 independent10743.47 living10743.95 centers10744.27 in10744.67 the10744.83 country.10744.99
10747.87 We10747.87 oppose,10748.19 the10749.47 assisted10750.11 suicide10750.59 bill.10751.23 Massachusetts10752.26 prides10753.07 itself10753.47 on10754.02 being10754.18 progressive10754.5 state10754.99 where10755.47 we10755.7 protect10755.86 the10756.26 rights10756.34 of10756.67 people10756.75 as10757.31 such.10757.55 We're10758.18 always10758.58 looking10758.91 for10759.23 ways10759.39 to10759.63 improve10759.78 our10760.42 quality10760.67 of10761.15 care,10761.31 our10761.86 response10762.1 rate,10762.58 our10762.91 service10763.15 health10763.63 index,10763.94 to10765.23 name10765.39 a10765.63 few.10765.78 Yes.10766.31 This10767.43 proposed10767.83 bill10768.31 will10768.87 send10769.11 us10769.35 in10769.51 an10769.75 opposite10769.83 direction10770.31 towards10770.87 giving10771.35 up10771.67 in10771.99 our10772.15 humanity.10772.39 During10773.59 my10773.83 3510774.07 year10774.55 career10774.79 at10775.27 Stavros,10775.43 I10775.99 have10776.15 seen10776.31 many10776.55 family10776.87 members10777.27 and10777.59 friends10777.75 move10778.55 through10778.79 complicated10779.03 decision10779.83 making10780.23 processes10780.79 and10781.75 deal10782.13 with10782.28 the10782.52 consequences10782.68 of10783.41 their10783.56 decisions.10783.89 There10784.76 are10785 no10785.08 simple10785.33 sources10785.73 or10786.13 solutions.10786.36 These10787.33 choices10787.56 become10788.05 even10788.52 more10788.84 clouded10789.08 when10789.56 we10789.81 are10789.97 under10790.2 the10790.52 stress,10790.68 when10791.65 we10791.89 are10792.13 told10792.36 that10792.6 our10792.84 quality10793.08 of10793.65 life10793.89 is10794.2 not10794.44 going10794.68 to10794.92 be10795.08 optimal.10795.25 That10797.29 is10797.45 the10797.61 case10797.69 for10798.09 110798.41 of10798.57 my10798.73 coworkers,10798.97 Paul.10799.53 He10800.01 had10800.17 stage10800.49 410800.81 lung10801.13 cancer10801.37 diagnosis10801.93 and10802.57 he10802.81 was10802.97 given10803.13 an10803.45 oxygen10803.61 tank,10804.09 a10804.41 phone10804.49 number10804.73 to10805.05 call10805.21 when10805.45 he10805.61 was10805.77 ready10805.93 for10806.33 hospice10806.57 with10807.77 fewer10808.01 than10808.73 610809.13 months10809.37 to10809.69 live.10809.85 There10810.69 was10810.85 seemingly10811.1 no10811.5 hope10811.74 for10811.98 him,10812.14 no10812.53 informed10812.85 choices,10813.25 no10813.82 drug10814.14 trial,10814.53 no10814.94 palliative10815.25 care,10815.82 no10816.22 reason10816.53 to10817.02 go10817.18 on.10817.42 Luckily10818.22 for10818.69 him,10818.85 the10819.1 community10819.25 came10819.82 together,10820.06 and10820.69 we10820.85 embrace10821.1 him10821.58 with10821.98 care10822.3 and10822.53 compassion10822.77 for10823.33 the10823.5 next10823.66 310823.9 years.10824.14 We10824.89 were10825.05 there10825.29 for10825.61 him.10825.77 We10826.09 saw10826.33 his10826.57 daughter10826.81 get10827.13 married,10827.37 his10828.01 grandchildren10828.25 being10829.05 born10829.29 in10829.93 mended10830.17 fences10830.57 with10831.05 brothers10831.29 and10831.77 sisters10831.93 that10832.97 had10833.53 long10833.93 been,10834.49 distraught.10836.57 Was10838.01 he10838.17 in10838.42 pain?10838.66 Certainly.10839.22 Did10840.42 he10840.58 have10840.73 a10840.9 good10840.98 quality10841.3 of10841.69 life?10841.85 Absolutely.10842.5 His10844.33 quality10845.06 of10845.45 life10845.61 included10845.93 pain10846.58 management,10846.9 palliative,10847.61 and10848.09 hospice10848.25 care10848.81 when10849.06 he10849.3 was10849.38 needed.10849.61 And10850.19 for10850.43 the10850.59 last10850.75 310851.07 years,10851.31 his10852.43 life10852.67 was10853.15 not10853.39 only10853.63 bearable,10853.95 but10854.75 valuable.10855.15 All10855.87 these10856.11 precious10856.35 gifts10856.75 after10857.15 being10857.47 told10857.79 that10858.03 he10858.19 only10858.35 had10858.67 610858.91 months10859.23 to10859.47 live.10859.63 I10860.35 am10860.51 very10860.75 concerned10861.07 that10861.47 610861.79 months10862.03 to10862.35 live10862.51 in10862.67 the10862.83 language,10862.99 as10864.43 a10864.67 prognosis10864.75 in10865.47 this10865.63 bill10866.23 is10867.34 something10867.58 that10868.23 would10868.7 have10868.94 taken10869.19 away10869.5 all10870.31 those10870.55 experiences10870.94 for10871.67 Paul10871.83 and10872.23 for10872.39 so10872.63 many10872.78 like10873.19 him.10873.34 Even10874.31 today,10874.63 there's10875.02 no10875.34 mental10875.58 health10875.91 counseling10876.23 that10876.78 accompanied10877.1 this10877.67 diagnosis.10877.91 There's10878.63 no10878.94 real10879.19 language10879.42 that10879.91 provides10880.24 for10880.64 treatment10880.8 of10881.2 depression10881.36 and10881.92 anxiety10882.08 after10883.04 receiving10883.84 a10884.24 diagnosis.10884.4 And10885.84 yes,10886.08 there's10886.32 provision10886.64 of10887.12 this10887.28 bill10887.44 to10887.76 engage10887.92 in10888.32 mental10888.4 health10888.8 services,10889.12 but10889.84 it's10890.08 only10890.32 to10890.56 prove10890.72 that10890.96 you10891.2 are10891.36 in10891.6 the10891.68 right10891.84 state10892.16 of10892.4 mind10892.56 while10893.08 making10893.41 your10893.81 decisions.10894.05 610895.65 months10895.89 prognosis10896.2 send10896.84 us10897.08 down10897.25 a10897.48 wrong10897.65 path.10897.97 According10898.36 to10898.84 a10899 com10899.17 to10899.56 academic10899.81 publisher,10900.36 factors10901.41 influencing10901.81 physicians10902.52 prognosis10903.17 is10903.89 scoping10904.05 review,10904.44 Physicians10905.32 diagnosis10905.96 lean10907.32 heavily10907.56 on10908.04 the10908.2 pessimistic10908.36 side10909 and10909.24 particularly10909.72 among10910.36 those10910.6 who10910.92 practice10911.08 whose10912.68 practices10912.92 expose10913.56 them10913.96 to10914.2 actually10914.36 ill10914.92 patients.10915.16 I10915.88 will10916.04 submit10916.28 the10916.6 rest10916.76 of10917 my10917.16 testimony10917.24 on10917.88 writing.10918.04 Thank10918.44 you.10918.68 Thank10919.08 you.10919.32
10921.38 SPEAKER110921.38 -10921.38 At10921.38 this10921.45 time,10921.61 I10922.01 wanna10922.17 welcome,10922.49 Deborah10923.22 Lieberson.10923.93
10938.61 SPEAKER5710938.61 -10938.61 I'm10938.61 here10938.85 to10939.25 offer,10939.41 testimony10940.61 in10941.49 support10941.73 of10942.29 the10942.61 End10942.69 of10942.85 Life10943.09 Options10943.41 Act10943.89 and10944.21 would10944.37 like10944.53 to10944.77 share10944.93 my10945.17 personal10945.41 experience.10945.97 My10947.51 husband,10947.83 Rich,10948.24 and10948.48 I10948.64 thought10948.88 we10949.03 did10949.19 everything10949.44 right.10949.92 We10950.95 discussed10951.19 end10951.59 of10951.75 life10951.92 care10952.24 with10952.48 his10952.64 extraordinary10952.88 providers,10953.59 signed10954.16 DNRs,10954.48 designated10955.83 his10956.32 health10956.64 care10956.8 proxy,10957.11 power10957.75 of10958.08 attorney.10958.24 All10959.11 of10959.35 his10959.44 caregivers10959.75 knew10960.95 and10961.19 supported10961.44 his10962.16 final10962.4 wishes10962.97 to10963.77 be10964.01 home10964.17 for10964.41 our10964.65 son's10964.81 third10965.21 birthday10965.53 and10966.49 then10966.65 to10966.81 discontinue10967.05 all10967.93 life10968.25 prolonging10968.57 care.10969.21 What10970.65 we10970.89 couldn't10971.05 have10971.37 known10971.61 was10972.09 that10972.25 his10972.49 pain10972.73 would10973.05 dramatically10973.29 increase10973.93 on10975 a10975.17 weekend10975.41 and10975.89 the10976.13 on10976.36 call10976.52 doctor10976.84 would10977.17 be10977.41 someone10977.56 we10977.89 had10978.13 never10978.28 met.10978.68 Over10980.44 the10980.76 previous10980.92 weeks,10981.33 powerful10981.97 drugs,10982.52 codeine,10983.08 demerol,10983.65 Vicodin10984.2 no10984.76 longer10985 relieved10985.41 Rich's10985.89 pain.10986.28 Intravenous10987.56 morphine10988.36 helped10988.84 at10989.49 first.10989.73 Rich's10991.53 lucid10992.01 times10992.49 became10992.97 less10993.37 frequent10993.69 over10994.25 time,10994.57 but10994.89 when10995.13 he10995.37 was10995.53 awake,10995.77 he10996.65 was10996.81 in10996.97 severe10997.21 pain.10997.61 The10999.21 last10999.37 time10999.61 he10999.85 opened11000.01 his11000.41 eyes,11000.65 he11001.13 looked11001.37 at11001.61 me11001.77 and11001.93 tried11002.09 to11002.41 speak,11002.65 but11003.29 he11003.53 could11003.69 not.11004.01 He11004.82 cried11004.98 out11005.38 in11005.61 pain.11005.77 I11007.53 pushed11007.77 the11008.09 button11008.17 on11008.5 his11008.66 IV11008.98 that11009.38 provided11009.53 a11010.01 boost11010.09 of11010.42 morphine11010.66 and11011.85 then11012.01 I11012.17 pressed11012.33 it11012.66 again11012.82 and11013.53 again11013.77 even11014.98 though11015.22 I11015.45 knew11015.53 it11015.77 would11015.94 make11016.09 no11016.42 difference.11016.58 The11017.61 The11017.86 pump11018.02 had11018.26 been11018.34 programmed11018.66 to11019.06 not11019.3 allow11019.54 me11019.86 to11020.02 do11020.34 what11020.66 I11020.9 think11020.98 I11021.22 was11021.46 trying11021.7 to11022.02 do.11022.34 My11024.18 conversation11024.58 with11025.06 the11025.3 on11025.46 call11025.62 doctor11025.86 was11026.26 brief.11026.5 I11027.3 told11027.46 her11027.7 what11027.86 was11028.02 happening11028.26 and11028.82 she11029.06 responded11029.3 that11029.78 she11029.86 would11030.02 increase11030.18 Rich's11030.58 morphine11030.98 by11031.54 511031.78 milligrams.11032.02 Concerned11034.08 that11034.48 such11034.72 a11034.95 small11035.03 increase11035.43 might11036 not11036.24 be11036.4 enough11036.56 to11036.88 relieve11037.03 his11037.43 pain,11037.67 I11038.48 asked11038.72 if11038.95 she11039.11 would11039.27 prescribe11039.51 more.11040.08 I11041.03 was11041.11 cut11041.35 off11041.59 mid11041.83 sentence.11042.16 She11042.88 sounded11043.11 angry.11043.59 Look,11044.64 this11045.11 is11045.27 not11045.51 your11045.83 decision.11046.24 There11047.03 are11047.27 medical11047.43 legal11047.92 issues11048.32 I11048.8 have11048.95 to11049.11 think11049.19 about.11049.51 I11050.69 knew11050.85 what11051.09 she11051.33 meant.11051.49 High11052.45 doses11052.69 of11053.09 morphine11053.25 can11053.81 suppress11053.97 respiration11054.45 and11055.57 in11055.89 some11055.97 cases11056.21 hasten11056.69 death.11057.17 I11058.53 asked11058.77 if11059.01 she11059.17 could11059.33 contact11059.57 the11059.97 physician11060.13 who11060.69 had11060.85 been11061.01 providing11061.73 and11062.21 coordinating11062.29 Rich's11062.93 care11063.33 for11063.57 years11063.73 but11064.59 was11064.83 tersely11064.92 informed11065.48 she's11066.19 not11066.51 on11066.83 call.11066.99 Could11068.99 you11069.15 please11069.48 contact11070.03 her11070.43 and11070.59 let11070.83 her11071.07 decide11071.4 if11071.88 she11072.11 wants11072.27 to11072.51 talk11072.67 to11072.99 me?11073.15 She11074.03 mumbled11074.19 something11074.67 and11075.07 hung11075.23 up.11075.48 Rich's11076.77 brother11077.17 was11077.49 with11077.73 me11077.97 and11078.21 was11078.53 furious.11078.77 After11080.13 he11080.45 calm11080.69 down,11081.01 he11081.33 told11081.49 me11081.81 he11081.97 had11082.13 a11082.29 plan.11082.45 Deb,11083.97 I've11084.37 been11084.53 watching11084.77 the11085.09 nurses11085.25 closely.11085.73 I'm11086.61 pretty11086.85 sure11087.17 I11087.41 can11087.57 reset11087.73 the11088.13 IV11088.37 pump11088.85 to11089.49 increase11089.73 Rich's11090.13 morphine11090.53 and11091.52 shorten11091.77 the11092.08 interval11092.33 between11092.81 boosts.11093.36 But11095.13 Rob's11095.36 plan11095.77 terrified11096.17 me.11096.81 What11097.52 if11097.77 the11097.92 pump11098 broke11098.33 and11099.52 Rich11099.77 would11100.08 have11100.25 no11100.57 medication?11100.81 What11101.84 if11102 someone11102.17 reported11102.65 what11103.13 we11103.28 had11103.44 done?11103.77 What11104.33 would11104.57 happen11104.73 to11105.13 my11105.28 son?11105.52 I11107.28 was11107.44 contemplating11107.68 all11108.4 of11108.64 the11108.8 things11108.88 that11109.2 could11109.36 go11109.52 wrong11109.76 when11110.4 the11110.56 phone11110.72 rang.11111.04 Hi,11112.16 it's11112.4 Joan.11112.64 What's11113.12 going11113.44 on?11113.84 Rich's11114.64 doctor's11115.12 voice11115.68 was11116 calm11116.32 and11116.72 reassuring.11117.12 I'll11118.72 get11118.88 a11119.12 prescription11119.2 down11119.76 to11120 the11120.16 pharmacy11120.32 and11121.18 contact11121.58 the11121.98 visiting11122.14 nurses.11122.61 Is11123.26 there11123.42 anything11123.58 else11123.98 I11124.14 can11124.3 do?11124.53 Rich11125.58 slept11125.9 peacefully11126.22 that11126.77 night11126.94 and11127.26 died11127.5 the11127.82 following11127.98 day.11128.45 No11130.22 1,11130.45 no11131.02 111131.18 should11131.5 ever11131.74 spend11131.98 their11132.22 last11132.45 hours11132.69 in11133.02 pain11133.18 and11133.74 no11134.06 111134.22 should11134.45 have11134.77 to11134.94 watch11135.02 someone11135.33 they11135.74 love11135.9 suffer11136.22 needlessly.11136.74 Thank11138.74 you.11138.98
11140.18 SPEAKER111140.18 -11140.18 Thank11140.18 you.11140.5
11144.82 At11144.82 this11144.98 time,11145.14 I11145.54 would11145.7 welcome11145.94 Caitlin11146.42 Stober.11146.9
11160.11 SPEAKER5811160.11 -11160.11 Good11160.11 afternoon11160.35 now,11160.83 senator11161.24 Driscoll,11161.72 representative11162.75 Decker,11163.31 and11163.72 members11163.95 of11164.27 the11164.43 joint11164.51 committee11164.75 on11165.08 public11165.31 health.11165.64 My11166.29 name11166.37 is11166.45 Caitlin11166.77 Stober11167.17 and11167.49 I'm11167.65 a11167.81 policy11167.97 research11168.37 associate11168.77 with11169.25 the11169.41 Massachusetts11169.57 Developmental11170.29 Disabilities11170.85 Council.11171.49 Our11172.93 council11173.17 is11173.57 an11173.73 independent11173.89 agency11174.53 funded11175.33 by11175.65 the11175.81 federal11175.97 government11176.37 dedicated11176.85 to11177.33 empowering11177.49 people11177.89 with11178.13 developmental11178.29 disabilities11178.93 and11179.41 their11179.57 families.11179.81 I'm11181.27 here11181.35 to11181.75 provide11181.91 information11182.31 regarding11183.02 H2500511183.58 and11184.78 S148611184.94 based11186.78 on11187.02 community11187.35 conversations,11187.91 research,11188.94 and11189.42 historical11189.75 developments.11190.39 MDDC's11191.5 mandate11192.31 is11192.78 to11193.19 educate11193.27 and11193.68 inform.11193.92 I11194.4 am11194.56 not11194.64 here11194.88 to11195.12 oppose11195.36 or11195.68 support11196 the11196.32 bill.11196.4 We11197.84 have11198.08 been11198.32 having11198.48 conversations11198.8 about11199.6 medical11199.84 assistance11200.24 in11200.64 dying11200.8 with11201.12 community11201.44 members.11201.92 It's11202.8 a11203.12 complex11203.2 issue.11203.76 People11204.72 within11205.04 the11205.36 disability11205.52 community11206.16 hold11206.64 different11207.05 personal11207.36 opinions11207.68 on11208.08 the11208.17 matter.11208.33 Some11209.28 people11209.52 believe11210 MAID11210.25 could11210.56 help11210.81 people11211.05 with11211.28 terminal11211.44 illnesses11211.92 have11212.48 dignity11213.13 and11214 self11214.25 determination11214.48 about11215.13 how11215.44 they11215.6 die.11215.76 Others11216.97 are11217.36 concerned11217.6 about11218 the11218.25 danger11218.41 MAID11218.81 poses11219.13 to11219.44 people11219.6 with11219.84 disabilities.11220.08 This11221.26 concern11221.5 is11221.9 echoed11222.14 by11222.38 some11222.62 disability11222.86 organizations,11223.5 including11224.3 the11224.62 Arc11224.78 of11225.1 the11225.26 United11225.34 States,11225.74 the11226.46 National11226.7 Council11227.02 on11227.42 Disability,11227.58 and11228.06 TASH,11228.46 all11229.18 of11229.34 whom11229.5 oppose11229.82 the11230.22 legalization11230.46 of11231.26 MAID.11231.42 So11233.27 MAID11233.44 happens11233.75 in11234.08 healthcare11234.32 systems.11234.8 They11235.83 can't11236 be11236.32 separated.11236.56 There's11237.59 extensive11238 research11238.72 that11239.11 documents11239.44 how11240 people11240.16 with11240.48 disabilities11240.72 are11241.27 treated11241.52 differently11241.83 than11242.32 people11242.48 without11242.72 disabilities11243.19 in11243.67 our11243.83 healthcare11244 systems.11244.48 A11245.67 national11245.83 survey11246.32 revealed11246.72 that11247.03 over11247.27 8011247.52 percent11247.83 of11248.16 physicians11248.52 believe11249 that11249.4 people11249.56 with11249.8 disabilities11250.04 have11250.6 a11250.84 worse11251 quality11251.24 of11251.56 life11251.72 based11252.52 on11252.68 disability11253.32 alone.11254.04
11256.76 MAID11256.76 requires11257.16 medical11257.8 professionals11258.44 to11258.92 distinguish11259.24 cases11259.72 that11260.36 are11260.6 eligible11260.76 for11261.24 suicide11261.73 assistance11262.05 from11262.93 cases11263.25 that11263.73 require11263.97 suicide11264.44 intervention.11265.01 And11266.05 the11266.28 persistent11266.52 inequities11267.08 in11267.65 healthcare11267.81 cast11268.36 doubt11268.69 that11269.41 MAID11269.57 could11269.97 always11270.2 be11270.77 administered11270.93 in11271.49 an11271.65 equitable11271.81 way.11272.36 We11274.1 we11274.26 know11274.5 that11274.66 MAID11274.9 is11275.14 legal11275.3 in11275.62 other11275.78 states11276.02 and11276.34 countries,11276.58 and11277.54 there11277.7 is11277.86 evidence11278.18 that11278.74 there11278.98 has11279.22 been11279.38 some11279.54 erosion11279.78 of11280.18 safeguards11280.42 over11280.98 time.11281.22 We've11283.46 heard11283.78 about11284.02 Oregon11284.34 and11284.9 that11285.14 some11285.54 folks11285.86 who11286.1 are11286.18 accessing11286.34 MAID11286.9 in11287.14 Oregon11287.3 have11287.7 reported11287.94 doing11288.34 so11288.58 because11288.82 they11289.06 felt11289.22 a11289.58 burden11289.75 to11290.07 their11290.15 family,11290.39 they11291.26 did11291.5 not11291.67 have11291.83 enough11291.99 money11292.31 to11292.63 continue11292.86 treatments,11293.26 or11294.15 they11294.39 did11294.47 not11294.7 have11294.86 supports11295.1 to11295.58 be11295.75 comfortable11295.91 and11296.39 manage11296.63 pain11297.02 at11297.34 the11297.5 end11297.58 of11297.75 their11297.91 lives.11298.07 In11299.42 Canada,11299.67 MAID11300.23 was11300.63 originally11300.86 intended11301.34 for11301.75 people11301.91 with11302.15 terminal11302.39 illnesses,11302.7 illnesses,11303.1 but11303.58 eligibility11303.98 has11304.62 since11304.78 expanded11305.18 to11305.66 include11305.82 people11306.06 with11306.3 chronic11306.54 conditions11306.86 that11307.66 overlap11307.9 with11308.38 many11308.54 developmental11308.86 disabilities.11309.42 While11311.5 there11311.74 are11311.9 many11312.06 safeguards11312.38 written11312.94 into11313.26 this11313.58 proposed11313.82 bill,11314.3 history11315.02 checks11315.66 the11316.22 absolute11316.38 trust11316.94 of11317.34 these11317.42 written11317.66 provisions.11317.98 We11319.16 have11319.32 seen11319.56 them11319.8 change.11320.03 So11321.64 on11321.88 111322.03 hand,11322.44 there's11322.83 concern11323.16 that11323.95 legalizing11324.27 MAID11324.92 may11325.32 have11325.48 unintended11325.8 consequences11326.44 and11327.8 disproportionately11328.11 assist11328.92 people11329.24 with11329.4 disabilities11329.64 to11330.19 end11330.27 their11330.44 lives.11330.67 On11331.56 the11331.8 other11331.95 hand,11332.11 there's11332.44 concern11332.75 that11333.24 as11333.48 written,11333.72 this11334.03 bill11334.19 prohibits11334.98 some11335.46 people11335.62 with11335.78 disabilities11336.02 from11336.9 having11337.06 equal11337.38 access11337.78 to11338.1 MAID.11338.26 People11338.9 with11339.14 guardians11339.3 are11339.78 not11339.94 eligible,11340.18 and11340.74 the11340.98 requisite11341.06 of11341.62 oral11341.78 and11342.1 written11342.18 communication11342.58 may11343.22 disqualify11343.38 individuals11343.94 who11344.42 are11344.66 deaf11344.74 or11344.98 use11345.14 other11345.38 communication11345.7 methods.11346.34 Thank11347.06 you11347.22 for11347.38 your11347.54 consideration.11347.78
11349.06 SPEAKER111349.06 -11349.06 Thank11349.06 you.11349.3 Just11349.55
11350.66 SPEAKER411350.66 -11350.66 just11350.66 had11350.74
11350.82 SPEAKER211350.82 -11350.82 a11350.82 question.11350.98 Sorry.11351.3 Yeah.11351.94
11352.17 SPEAKER411352.17 -11352.17 Of11352.17 course.11352.33
11352.42 SPEAKER211352.42 -11352.42 There11352.42 you11352.5 go.11352.66 Thank11352.82 you11352.98 so11353.06 much11353.22 for11353.45 being11353.53 here.11353.77 Mhmm.11354.42 Not11356.58 familiar11356.82 with11357.14 your11357.3 organization11357.45 before11358.02 today,11358.33 so11358.58 thanks11358.82 for11359.06 coming.11359.22
11359.61 SPEAKER5511359.61 -11359.61 Absolutely.11359.61 Do11360.09
11360.25 SPEAKER211360.25 -11360.25 you11360.25 have11360.33 data11361.3 on11361.77 we11362.25 heard11362.5 a11362.74 little11362.82 bit11362.98 earlier11363.22 about11363.45 DNRs11363.78 in11364.82 terms11364.98 of11365.3 your11365.38 the11365.7 community11365.78 that11366.18 you11366.26 work11366.42 with.11366.66 Do11367.14 you11367.38 have11367.46 data11367.62 on11367.94 what11368.74 might11369.62 be11369.86 in11370.1 practice11370.34 across,11371.22 your11372.9 community11373.14 or11373.78 if,11374.1 you11374.34 know,11374.42 any11374.66 kind11374.9 of11375.06 tracking11375.22 of11375.62 of11375.86 those11376.02 types11376.18 of11376.42 things?11376.5
11377.1 SPEAKER5811377.1 -11377.1 For11377.1 specifically11377.34 for11377.98 do11378.14 not11378.3 resuscitate11378.53 orders?11379.02 Yes.11379.34 So,11380.22 what11380.94 I11381.1 can11381.26 offer,11381.42 I11381.74 actually11381.82 have11382.14 our11382.38 testimony11382.53 printed,11383.1 which11383.5 has11383.66 a11383.82 QR11383.98 code11384.38 for11384.61 our11384.85 resource11385.02 sheet11385.5 that11385.98 will11386.14 have11386.3 some11386.45 resources11386.69 that11387.18 do11387.42 talk11387.58 about11387.82 DNRs11388.22 in11388.77 the11388.94 umbrella11389.58 category11390.14 of11390.53 advanced11390.77 care11391.18 planning,11391.42 which11391.98 MAID11392.3 falls11392.69 under.11393.01 I11394.05 cannot11394.29 offer11394.61 you11394.85 data11395.09 points11395.41 at11395.73 this11395.81 time,11395.97 and11396.21 I'm11396.37 happy11396.53 to11396.77 get11396.85 you11397.01 some.11397.25 What11397.73 I11397.97 can11398.05 say11398.29 is11398.53 we11398.69 do11398.85 have11399.01 community11399.33 members11399.81 who11400.13 have11400.29 come11400.53 to11400.77 us11400.93 that11401.41 particularly11401.73 in11402.69 the11403.09 COVID11403.41 19,11403.81 the11404.29 onset11404.45 of11404.77 this11404.93 pandemic,11405.17
11405.97 SPEAKER411405.97 -11405.97 they11405.97 were11405.98 affected11405.99 by11406 crisis11406.01 standards11406.02 of11406.03 care.11406.04 We11406.05 actually11406.06 have11406.07 a11406.08
11406.09 SPEAKER5811406.09 -11406.09 citizen11406.09 member11406.1 whose,11406.11 daughter11406.13 passed11406.53 standards11408.35 of11408.54 care.11408.73 We11408.92 actually11410.19 have11410.24 a11410.27 citizen11410.32 member11410.35 whose,11410.56 daughter11410.98 passed11411.19 away11411.4 because11411.48 she11411.84 was,11412.19 inappropriately,11413.24 had11415.56 been11415.8 labeled,11415.95 with11416.92 a11417 DNR11417.24 sticker11417.72 above11418.03 her11418.35 above11418.6 her11418.92 bed11419.08 in11419.24 the11419.4 hospital.11419.56 So11419.95 we11420.52 do11420.67 know11420.92 that11421.08 this11421.4 is11421.56 111421.8 of11421.95 the11422.11 reasons11422.26 that11422.66 some11422.82 people11423.06 with11423.3 developmental11423.46 disabilities11424.1 are11424.9 particularly11425.22 concerned11425.86 about11426.26 MAID11426.5 legislation11426.82 because11427.46 they11427.78 have11427.94 seen,11428.18 some11429.14 of11429.3 this11429.46 distrust11429.78 or11430.26 concern11430.5 has11430.98 been11431.22 exacerbated11431.46 by,11432.58 DNR11433.38 orders11434.26 and11434.66 how11434.9 there11435.76 has11436.08 been11436.33 some11436.57 different11436.81 treatment11437.05 of11437.44 people11437.52 dis11437.84 with11438.08 disabilities11438.33 in11439.2 the11439.36 administration11439.44 of11440.08 that.11440.17
11440.73 SPEAKER211440.73 -11440.73 Great.11440.73 Thank11441.13 you.11441.36
11441.84 SPEAKER111441.84 -11441.84 Of11441.84 course.11442 Thank11443.84 you.11444.08 At11445.28 this11445.44 time,11445.6 I'll11445.92 welcome11446.17 John11446.65 Kelly11446.97 and11447.28 Anita11447.52 Cameron.11448
11505.57 I11505.57 wanna11505.73 welcome11506.05 you,11506.45 and11506.69 I11506.85 wanna11507.01 say11507.25 normally11507.41 we11507.73 would11507.89 have11508.05 a11508.29 611508.37 minute11508.69 time11509.25 limit11509.57 for11509.89 a11510.05 panel,11510.13 but11510.45 I11510.61 wanna11510.77 encourage11511.09 you11511.41 to11511.57 take11511.81 the11511.97 time11512.05 that11512.29 you11512.45 need.11512.61
11513.81 SPEAKER811513.81 -11513.81 Thank11513.81 you.11514.13 I'll11515.49 look11515.73 at11515.89 lower.11516.21 Thanks.11516.61 Lower.11518.19 Lower.11519.94 Chair11521.7 Decker11522.02 and11522.5 Driscoll,11522.83 members11524.1 of11524.75 the11524.83 committee11524.91 on11525.86 public11526.26 health,11526.75 I11527.7 am11528.02 communications11528.26 director11529.39 to11529.72
11537.44 oppose11537.44
11545.32 to11545.32 oppose11545.56 the11546.44 ballot11546.75 referendum11547.32 on11549.32 assisted11549.4 suicide,11549.88 and11551.48 we11551.88 helped11552.11 defeat11552.52 it.11552.92 In11553.8 2018,11554.27 I11555.95 was11556.11 near11556.52 death11557 from11557.88 necrotizing11558.44 pneumonia.11560.11 A11561.61 doctor11561.77 asked11562.41 my11562.81 brothers,11563.69 not11564.89 me,11565.29 about11566.41 my11566.81 quote11567.93 unquote11568.25 quality11569.61 of11570.17 life.11570.41 Yes.11571.53 The11572.49 magic11572.73 words,11573.29 quality11574.33 of11574.89 life11575.05 that11575.99 can11576.23 lead11576.39 to11576.78 death11577.1 for11578.23 old,11578.78 ill,11579.75 and11580.63 disabled11580.86 people11581.58 like11582.55 me.11582.94 I11583.83 am11583.99 now11584.23 6711584.7 years11586.07 old.11586.47 Charlie11587.67 and11588.07 Stuart11588.39 understood11589.35 where11590.07 the11590.47 doctor11590.63 was11591.76 going11592.16 with11592.56 this11592.8 so11593.92 they11594.16 Outdid11595.52 themselves11596.16 in11597.36 saying11597.6 how11598 great11598.4 my11599.28 quality11599.6 of11600.16 life11600.4 is11601.2 if11602.32 they11602.56 had11602.8 said11603.12 my11604.08 life11604.4 was11604.8 very11605.6 poor11606.24 and11607.25 I11607.66 wish11607.74 that11608.06 I11608.93 had11609.17 died11609.42 ever11610.38 since11610.77 my11611.25 injury11612.14 at11612.77 the11612.93 age11613.17 of11613.9 25,11614.3 things11615.74 might11616.14 have11616.38 turned11616.61 out11616.93 quite11617.66 different.11618.14 I11619.01 might11619.25 not11619.5 be11619.81 here11619.98 today.11620.38 When11621.73 senator11622.13 Brown's11622.77 Burger,11623.25 who's11624.13 my11624.45 senator,11624.85 a11625.81 man11626.05 I11626.37 respect11626.61 a11627.17 lot,11627.33 told11628.37 me11628.69 he11628.93 couldn't11629.09 imagine11629.49 me11630.77 being11631.09 eligible11631.41 for11632.77 assisted11633.17 suicide,11633.81 I11635.17 always11635.49 knew11636.05 that11637.08 I11637.24 was11637.4 vulnerable11637.95 in11639.32 other11639.56 ways.11639.88 The11641.24 social11641.56 climate11642.11 supporting11643.4 my11644.11 death11644.35 churns11645.4 out11645.8 movie11646.83 after11647.4 movie11647.88 about11649 a11649.4 character11649.64 in11650.83 my11651.16 situation11651.64 clamoring11653.29 for11654.01 death,11654.25 promoting11655.45 the11656.09 idea11656.33 that11657.45 we11657.85 that11658.89 I11659.21 would11660.17 be11660.49 better11660.73 off11661.13 dead.11661.45
11665.15 Even11665.15 more,11665.55 menacing11667.55 is11668.83 the11669.15 statistic11669.55 about11670.91 doctors.11671.39 8211672.67 percent,11673.47 you've11674.34 heard11674.67 that11674.99 before,11675.23 including,11676.58 it11677.23 seems,11677.55 my11678.58 doctor11678.82 at11679.3 Boston11679.62 Medical11680.82 Center11681.46 believes11682.74 that11683.22 our11684.1 quality11684.66 of11685.94 life11686.18 is11687.06 inferior.11687.54 When11689.14 that11689.46 doctor11689.78 was11690.34 querying11691.54 my11692.42 brothers11693.3 on11694.5 my11694.66 quality11695.06 of11695.69 life.11695.93 I11697.06 was11697.22 having11697.61 ICU11698.74 psychological11700.5 psychosis,11702.25 thinking11703.69 all11704.42 people11704.74 were11705.69 trying11705.93 to11706.33 kill11706.5 me.11706.81 Turns11707.81 out11708.13 I11708.77 wasn't11709.09 that11710.05 far11710.53 off.11710.85
11713.65 Our11713.65 concerns11714.45 are11715.81 visceral.11716.13 We11717.57 know11717.81 from11718.13 history11718.53 and11719.65 personal11720.05 experience11720.85 that11722.4 assisted11722.72 suicide11723.35 programs11725.52 are11725.92 fueled11726.24 by11726.88 deadly11727.83 social11728.56 views11729.19 about11730.16 disability11730.64 from11732.32 raw11732.72 prejudice11733.27 against11734.73 needing11736.01 assistance11736.65 with11737.93 daily11738.25 tasks11738.89 to11740.17 elite11740.41 discourses11741.53 on11742.81 autonomy11743.37 and11744.65 dignity.11744.97 When11746.57 proponents11746.97 insist11748.45 that11749.01 their11749.33 safeguards11750.3 are11751.01 strict11751.33 and11752.22 that11752.45 any11752.77 program11753.25 would11754.3 be11754.53 limited11754.77 to11755.9 people11756.14 judged11756.53 terminal,11757.09 we11758.22 know11758.53 that11759.42 these11759.73 programs11760.14 already11761.73 entail11762.45 the11763.73 deaths11763.97 of11764.85 non11765.33 terminal11765.89 disabled11767.25 people11767.81 through11768.85 misdiagnosis11769.81 and11771.57 incorrect11772.05 prognosis.11773.25 And11774.85 we11775.09 learned11775.33 that11775.65 people11776.05 suffering11777.01 from11777.57 anorexia11778.05 nervosa,11779.7 more11781.47 than11781.7 6011782.67 so11783.31 far,11783.63 yes,11784.58 this11784.99 is11785.31 documented,11785.63 have11787.06 been11787.31 labeled11787.55 terminal11788.75 and11789.7 are11789.94 taking11790.26 the11790.75 poison.11790.91 They11792.46 say11792.7 it's11793.02 only11793.34 voluntary.11793.98 The11795.58 person11795.82 must11796.38 choose11796.7 themselves.11797.26 My11798.86 question11799.18 is,11799.74 they11800.62 must11800.86 choose11801.26 or11802.3 what?11802.54 Or11803.82 what?11804.3 The11805.93 witness11806.17 is11806.65 dead.11806.9 In11808.01 this11808.17 and11808.5 in11808.65 other11808.9 ways,11809.22 we11810.09 are11810.42 making11810.65 social11811.22 justice11812.25 arguments11812.9 against11814.17 systemic11815.3 discrimination11816.17 against11817.85 vulnerable11818.5 communities.11819.74 Our11821.26 state11821.66 must11822.7 not11823.18 sponsor11824.22 people's11825.02 suicides11825.58 because11826.94 other11827.5 people11827.9 consider11829.02 them11829.74 or11830.62 us11830.86 a11831.26 burden.11831.5 Because11832.77 they11833.09 believe11833.42 they11834.38 are11834.61 dying11834.85 when11835.9 they're11836.14 not11836.53 and11837.9 because11838.3 they11839.33 have11839.58 been11840.06 denied11840.3 the11841.58 treatment11841.74 and11842.85 support11843.25 services11844.45 that11845.74 would11845.9 keep11846.22 them11846.45 alive.11846.85 Thank11847.94 you.11848.18 Yeah.11850.34
11863.81 SPEAKER5911863.81 -11863.81 Good11863.81 afternoon.11864.2
11867.17 I'm11867.17 Anita11867.48 Cameron,11867.97 and11868.44 I'm11868.68 director11868.92 of11869.56 community11869.89 outreach.11870.36 We're11870.84 not11871 there11871.25 yet.11871.48 And11873.08 I'm11873.32 here11873.56 in11873.81 opposition11874.13 to11876.2 the11876.52 to11877.14 h11877.38 211877.54 2211878.02 2511878.74 011879.3 211879.54 and11879.7 s11879.86 1411880.26 86,11880.74 obviously11882.1 known11882.66 as11882.9 the11883.06 land11883.22 end11883.54 of11883.78 life11883.94 options11884.26 act.11884.74
11888.26 I11888.26 live11888.5 with,11888.82 intractable11889.62 pain,11890.5 and11892.43 I11892.59 have11892.83 multiple11893.15 disabilities.11893.78 211896.1 of11896.27 them11896.43 are11896.67 degenerative11896.91 and11897.7 111897.94 will11898.19 take11898.43 my11898.67 life.11898.99 And11900.43 111900.67 of11900.91 my11900.99 conditions,11901.23 though11901.94 chronic,11902.35 can11903.47 become11903.78 terminal11904.27 if11905.23 I11905.47 lose11905.7 access11906.1 to11906.59 treatment.11906.83
11909.44 So11909.44 the11909.76 proponents11910 of11911.6 this11911.76 bill11912.08 speak11912.64 of11912.88 pain11913.12 as11914.16 the11914.4 main11914.56 reason11915.04 that11915.52 they11915.76 want11916.08 assisted11916.56 suicide,11917.2 but11917.84 this11918.16 can11918.4 be11918.64 addressed11918.96 by11920.08 effective11920.4 pain11921.68 control,11921.84 palliative11923.27 care,11924 hospice11925.11 services,11925.6 and11927.03 palliative11928.16
11929.27 SPEAKER4511929.27 -11929.27 sedation.11929.27
11933.83 SPEAKER5911933.83 -11933.83 I11933.83 live11934.07 with11935.35 chronic11935.75 pain,11936.23 and11937.83 I'm11938.07 often11938.39 hospitalized11938.95 for11940.79 pain11941.19 management11941.59 because11942.79 I11943.27 am11943.43 allergic11943.75 to11944.39 all11944.71 opioids11945.19 and11946.47 opioids.11947.03 And11948.9 at11949.22 my11949.45 last11949.69 hospitalization,11950.18 the11952.33 pain11952.58 literally11953.38 became11953.94 life11954.42 threatening.11954.74 My11956.42 blood11956.74 pressure11956.98 skyrocketed,11957.69 and11959.14 I11959.53 began11959.69 to11960.18 go11960.25 into11960.5 cardiac11960.82 arrest.11961.45 And11963.15 the11963.47 doctors11963.55 saved11964.35 my11964.83 life11964.91 by11966.11 giving11966.43 me11966.75 a11967.07 powerful11967.31 pain11967.95 medication11968.35 that11968.99 I'm11969.15 allergic11969.47 to.11970.03 It11970.91 stopped11971.15 my11971.55 pain11971.79 immediately.11972.27 So11973.23 they11973.47 were11973.71 able11973.95 to11974.27 treat11974.51 the11974.83 cardiac11975.07 issues11975.71 and11976.11 adjust11976.43 the11976.91 allergy.11977.15 And11978.14 I'm11978.3 on11978.45 a11978.93 pain11979.01 regimen11979.33 right11979.98 now,11980.3 and11981.01 I've11981.17 been11981.33 referred11981.81 to11982.38 a11982.77 palliative11983.09 care11983.81 specialist.11984.38
11986.93 Rather11986.93 than11987.25 immediately11987.57 jump11988.3 rather11989.09 than11989.5 immediately11989.73 jump11990.38 to11990.61 assist11990.77 the11991.09 suicide11991.25 as11992.45 an11992.61 an11992.93 answer11993.09 for11993.57 pain11993.81 and11994.13 suffering,11994.37 palliative11995.49 care11996.21 should11996.37 be11996.61 provided.11996.93 This11998.53 law11998.85 is12000.13 gonna12000.29 put12000.69 sick12001.09 people,12001.49 seniors12002.45 and12003.09 disabled12003.33 people12003.97 especially,12004.37 at12005.01 risk12005.09 due12006.05 to12006.29 the12006.53 view12006.69 of12007.17 doctors12007.41 that12008.61 we12008.91 have12009.23 a12009.55 lower12009.7 quality12010.1 of12010.67 life12010.91 and12011.31 therefore,12011.63 leading12012.75 them12013.15 to12013.39 devalue12013.7 our12014.34 lives.12014.58 And12014.99 this12015.31 bias12015.7 means12016.91 that12017.23 we12017.47 are12018.02 often12018.42 diagnosed12018.99 as12020.42 terminally12020.67 ill.12021.47 And12023.67 this12023.83 bill12024.15 is12024.47 for12024.79 those12024.95 deemed12025.35 terminally12026.15 ill12026.55 with12026.79 612027.03 months12027.27 or12027.59 less12027.75 to12028.07 live.12028.15 But12028.55 make12028.87 no12029.19 mistake,12029.35 terminally12030.55 ill12031.19 people12031.75 are12032.71 disabled12033.03 people12033.67 supposedly12034.63 protected12035.27 under12035.99 law.12036.31 Unfortunately,12038.58 we12039.22 in12039.77 the12039.93 disability12040.17 community12040.9 experience12042.42 discrimination12044.25 in12045.06 health12045.3 care12045.61 to12045.85 the12046.09 point12046.25 that12046.81 the12047.06 National12047.3 Institute12047.85 of12048.42 Health12048.58 has12049.53 designated12049.93 us12050.73 as12050.85 a12050.97 community12051.37 that12051.85 experiences12052.41 health12053.37 care12053.69 disparities.12054.17 And12056.09 listen,12056.41 as12056.89 long12057.21 as12057.53 disability12057.77 discrimination12058.49 and12059.69 disparities12060.01 in12060.97 health12061.21 care12061.53 exists,12062.01 assisted12062.73 suicide12063.61 laws12064.85 have12065.33 no12065.66 place12065.9 in12066.22 Massachusetts.12066.38 Please12068.22 vote12069.74 no12070.14 on12070.85 h12071.09 2512071.58 012072.14 512072.45 and12073.01 s12073.25 1412073.58 86.12074.06 Thank12074.69 you.12074.94
12076.69 SPEAKER112076.69 -12076.69 Thank12076.69 you12077.01 both.12077.25
12079.95 At12079.95 this12080.19 time,12080.43 I12080.83 would12080.99 welcome12081.23 Suzanne12081.71 Alexander.12082.35
12127.73 SPEAKER1312127.73 -12127.73 Good12127.73
12127.89 SPEAKER1612127.89 -12127.89 afternoon.12127.89 I'm12129.25 Suzanne12129.56 Alexander.12130.13 I'm12131.08 a12131.33 veterinarian,12131.49 and12133.97 I12134.28 am12134.44 retired12134.6 from12135.08 the12135.25 US12135.49 Army12135.65 Veterinary12136.05 Corps.12136.52 I12138.02 was12138.26 stationed12138.42 all12138.82 over12138.98 the12139.22 world12139.38 and12140.02 saw12140.34 how12142.42
12145.14 different12145.14 cultures12145.54 and12146.02 different12146.26 things12146.5 respond12147.14 to12147.54 end12148.02 of12148.18 life12148.34 issues.12148.58 I12150.58 am12150.66 strongly12150.98 in12151.45 support12151.69 of12152.74 h12153.14 250512153.77 and12155.22 812155.61 s12156.02 1412156.66 86,12157.3 an12158.98 act12159.22 relative12159.45 to12159.94 end12160.02 of12160.18 life12160.33 options.12160.66 I12162.51 have12162.67 been12162.91 support12163.39 in12164.19 support12164.51 of12164.99 these12165.15 options12165.47 since12166.03 very12166.35 early12166.67 in12167.07 my12167.15 career12167.31 when12168.59 I12168.91 was12169.71 able12169.95 to12170.27 witness12170.67 and12171.55 participate12172.75 in12173.63 the12174.19 difference12174.35 between12174.83 a12175.39 good12175.47 death12175.79 and12176.44 a12176.6 bad12176.69 death.12176.92 I12178.13 do12178.36 not12178.52 equate12178.76 animals12179.33 to12179.81 humans.12179.97 I12180.36 understand12180.52 the12181.41 difference12181.57 and12182.05 and12182.44 the12182.69 legality12182.84 parts12183.49 are12184.05 are12184.36 very12184.6 pronounced.12185.33 I12187.33 am12187.49 also12187.73 very12188.05 sick.12188.36 In12190.44 02/2021,12190.84 I12191.83 was12191.91 diagnosed12192.15 with12192.63 breast12192.87 cancer,12193.11 invasive,12194.79 surgery,12196.07 chemo,12197.11 radiation,12197.91 the12198.71 whole12198.79 deal.12199.03 I12201.11 was12201.27 continuing12201.51 to12202.07 try12202.23 to12202.55 work12202.63 part12203.43 time.12203.67 I12204.47 was12204.63 having12204.79 difficulties12205.11 with12205.91 my12206.07 side12206.71 effects12206.95 from12207.41 chemo,12207.65 and12207.89 that12208.13 became12208.36 difficult.12208.85 So12209.33 now12209.49 I12209.65 have12209.89 I'm12210.92 retired12211.17 on12211.65 disability.12211.81 I12213.08 still12213.33 volunteer12213.57 at12214.05 a12214.13 couple12214.2 of12214.44 humane12214.52 societies12214.92 when12215.41 I'm12215.65 strong12215.89 enough.12216.2 I'm12217.41 strong12217.65 enough12217.89 to12218.2 be12218.28 here12218.44 today12218.69 simply12219.17 because12219.57 I12219.89 had12219.97 a12220.13 blood12220.28 transfusion12220.6 last12221.33 week.12221.65 Normally,12222.96 I'm12223.44 quite12223.6 weak12223.84 and12224.24 unable12224.56 to12225.04 get12225.12 around12225.28 very12225.6 well.12225.84
12228.48 I12228.48 was12228.72 also12228.88 diagnosed12229.28 with12229.92 advanced12230.48 ovarian12231.12 cancer12231.6 in12232.32 February.12232.64 It12235.65 is12235.9 throughout12236.22 my12236.61 entire12236.77 abdomen.12237.25 It12239.42 is12239.65 not12241.98 responding12242.3 to12242.77 chemo.12243.01 I've12243.73 I'm12244.06 already12244.3 in12244.85 my12245.09 first12245.25 recurrence.12245.65 I12246.22 had12246.38 massive12247.09 surgery,12247.58 chemotherapy,12248.61 the12249.57 whole12249.65 deal.12249.73 It12251.73 went12251.97 into12252.29 remission12252.77 for12253.17 about12253.33 912253.65 months.12253.89 And12255.01 since12255.41 I12255.81 am12255.97 a12256.29 early12256.61 recurrence12257.01 person,12257.57 my12257.97 prognosis12258.21 is12259.25 said12259.41 to12259.65 be12259.81 significantly12260.13 worse.12260.77 Oh,12261.65 boy.12261.89
12264.61 The12264.61 I12265.33 have12265.42 a12265.58 phenomenal12265.74 team12266.3 at12266.53 Dana12266.69 Farber.12267.02 They're12268.22 trying12268.45 to12268.77 get12268.85 me12269.02 into12269.18 clinical12269.42 trials,12269.9 but12270.3 in12270.45 the12270.61 current12270.69 environment12271.1 with12271.66 NIH12271.9 being12272.69 gutted,12272.94 it's12273.5 like12273.74 we're12274.06 very12274.3 worried12274.61 about12274.94 funding12275.25 for12275.58 continued12275.82 research12276.38 for12276.85 additional12277.94 things12278.34 for12278.66 treatment12278.9 resistant12279.22 ovarian12279.7 cancer.12280.1 I've12282.18 read12282.58 very12282.9 thoroughly12283.14 through12283.54 these12283.86 bills,12284.1 and12285.38 I12285.62 am12285.78 impressed12286.18 with12286.74 their12286.9 robust12288.66 protections.12289.14 It12289.78 is12289.86 voluntary.12290.18 Somebody12291.22 has12291.62 to12291.86 be12291.94 coherent.12292.1 There's12292.74 checks12293.5 and12293.73 balances,12294.06 the12294.69 terminal12294.85 ill,12295.25 the12295.58 612295.73 months.12295.9
12298.45 And12298.45 I12299.5 am12299.58 also12299.73 concerned12300.14 about12300.53 DNRs12300.85 that12301.33 are12301.5 not12301.66 respected.12301.81 It's12302.3 like12302.38 when12302.53 you're12302.77 in12302.93 the12303.01 emergency12303.17 room12303.73 and12304.61 DNRs12305.25 are12306.64 overwritten12306.72 because12307.36 they're12307.84 not12308.08 positives.12308.64 Like12309.12 you12309.36 get12309.44 you12309.84 get12310.24 treatment12310.56 whether12311.04 you12311.28 want12311.44 it12311.6 or12311.68 not.12311.92 My12312.88 main12313.12 options12313.36 at12313.84 the12314 moment,12314.08 as12314.72 I12314.88 see12315.12 them,12315.36 is12315.68 to12315.92 travel12316.4 or12317.04 move12317.28 to12317.52 another12317.68 state.12318.08 Vermont,12319.92 as12321.04 testified12322.38 beautifully,12322.67 it's12322.98 like12323.27 is12323.58 is12323.73 on12325.25 my12325.42 list.12325.73 My12326.61 mother12326.85 is12327.09 Canadian.12327.33 Could12327.81 I12328.06 move12328.22 to12328.38 Canada?12328.53 I12329.42 have12329.58 an12329.73 aunt12329.98 in12330.22 Switzerland.12330.45 Could12331.09 I12331.17 afford12331.42 to12331.81 go12331.98 to12332.14 Switzerland?12332.3 Do12334.61 I12334.77 need12334.93 to12335.09 do12335.17 anything12335.33 while12335.73 I'm12336.06 still12336.3 capable12336.61 of12337.17 some12337.5 autonomy?12337.98
12340.54 My12340.54 grain12340.7 my12341.18 greatest12341.42 fear12341.82 is12342.14 where12342.38 is12342.62 this12342.78 disease12343.02 gonna12343.34 go12343.58 next?12343.74 Is12344.46 it12344.62 gonna12344.78 go12345.18 to12345.34 my12345.5 brain?12345.74 Am12346.3 I12346.46 gonna12346.54 have12346.78 a12346.94 stroke12347.1 where12347.34 I12347.58 will12347.66 no12347.82 longer12347.98 be12348.22 determined12348.46 competent12348.86 for12349.34 making12349.5 my12349.82 own12349.98 decisions?12350.22 Being12351.56 kept12351.88 alive12352.11 against12352.51 my12352.83 will.12353.08 I12353.95 am12354.11 already12354.35 in12354.75 kidney12355 failure.12355.4 How12357.72 is12357.95 that12358.03 going12358.27 to12358.59 impact12358.67 my12359.64 ability?12359.88 I12360.75 also12361 appreciate12361.32 in12361.88 the12362.03 bill12362.11 the12362.51 protections12362.67 that12363.16 are12363.32 built12363.48 in12363.72 for12363.95 physicians12364.27 and12364.92 pharmacists12365.16 that12366.39 choose12366.55 to12366.95 participate12367.19 in12368.39 assisting12369.11 us12369.67 that12369.99 are12370.15 interested12370.39 in12371.03 pursuing12371.43 MAID.12372.07 Thank12372.87 you.12373.11 I'm12373.35 sorry12373.43 I12373.75 ran12373.91 over.12374.07
12375.19 SPEAKER112375.19 -12375.19 Okay.12375.19 Thank12375.51 you12375.67 for12375.83 your12375.99 time.12376.15 And12376.31 if12376.55 you12376.63 wish12376.71 to12376.95 submit12377.03 any12377.43 additional12377.67 testimony,12378.15 please.12378.71 Say12379.35 again?12379.51 If12379.99 you12380.07 wish12380.31 to12380.55 submit12380.78 any12381.1 additional12381.35 testimony.12381.75
12381.99 SPEAKER1612381.99 -12381.99 I12381.99 will.12382.23 I12382.39 will.12382.63 Thank12382.94 you12383.19 so12383.27 much.12383.35 Thank12383.67 you12383.83 for12383.99
12384.15 SPEAKER112384.15 -12384.15 your12384.15 time12384.31 and12384.55 service.12384.7 At12386.23 this12386.39 time,12386.63 I12386.94 would12387.1 welcome,12387.35 by12387.83 way12387.99 of12388.31 teams,12388.47 Andrew12389.02 Starr.12389.5
12392.07 Okay.12392.07 Andrew12392.63 is12393.02 not12393.19 with12393.42 us.12393.58 Doctor12394.84 Richard12395.32 Florentine.12395.88
12398.76 Doctor12398.76 Florentine,12399.08 are12399.64 you12399.8 on12399.96 the12400.2 phone?12400.28 Because12400.68 we12400.92 can't12401.08 see12401.4 your12401.56 name.12401.72
12402.12 SPEAKER3512402.12 -12402.12 Yes.12402.12
12402.76 SPEAKER112402.76 -12402.76 Welcome.12402.76
12403.72 SPEAKER412403.72 -12403.72 Yes.12403.72 Can12404.12 you12404.36 hear12404.6 me?12404.76
12405.88 SPEAKER112405.88 -12405.88 We12405.88 can12406.04 hear12406.2 you.12406.44
12406.68 SPEAKER412406.68 -12406.68 Thank12406.68 you12406.92 for12407 oh,12407.96 thank12408.28 you12408.44 for12408.68 allowing12408.84 me12409.24 to12409.4 speak.12409.56 I12411.02 am12411.27 speaking12411.58 as12412.55 an12412.7 individual12412.94 against,12414.7 SB12416.07 1412416.78 8612417.19 and12417.75 HB12418.07 212419.02 512419.27 012419.5 5.12419.83 I'm12421.35 retired12421.75 board12422.39 certified12422.7 and12423.35 Massachusetts12423.75 licensed12424.47 physician12425.02 with12425.96 over12426.12 3012426.84 years12427.08 of12427.48 practice12427.64 experience12428.2 as12428.68 a12428.84 primary12428.92 care12429.32 physician12429.64 including12430.52 caring12430.92 for12431.32 hospice,12431.48 terminally12432.28 ill,12432.84 disabled12433.56 patients12434.12 and12434.52 veterans.12434.68 I12435.88 speak12436.04 in12436.28 strong12436.44 opposition12436.84 to12437.4 this12437.48 dangerous12437.72 legislation.12438.36 In12439.72 the12439.88 words12440.04 of12440.28 the12440.44 AMA,12440.6 physician12442.01 assisted12442.5 suicide12443.06 is12443.61 fundamentally12443.77 incompatible12444.74 with12445.45 physician's12446.17 role12446.82 as12447.14 healer,12447.3 would12448.09 be12448.25 difficult12448.5 to12448.9 control12449.14 and12449.93 could12450.17 provide12450.66 serious12451.22 societal12451.77 risks.12452.33 Many12453.3 of12453.53 which12453.61 have12453.93 already12454.09 been12454.42 discussed12455.14 And12456.32 palliative12456.64 care12457.2 is12457.76 the12458.48 best12458.72 option12459.04 to12460.32 primarily12461.6 protect12463.2 the12463.84 patient's12464.08 dignity12464.56 while12465.76 maximally12466.48 providing12467.68 the12468.24 comfort12468.4 with12469.25 expertise12469.49 of12471.08 qualified12471.33 physicians12472.05 to12473.08 make12473.25 sure12473.41 a12473.65 patient's12473.81 death12474.28 is12474.6 a12474.76 good12474.84 death.12475.08 This12476.92 bill12477.41 uses12477.73 so12478.2 much12478.36 deceptive12478.84 languages12479.41 such12480.05 as12480.76 MAD12481 which12481.56 is12481.81 in12481.97 fact12482.13 provider12482.52 assisted12483.6 suicide12484 dress12484.4 and12484.64 euphemistic12484.8 turn12486.08 to12486.4 distract12486.64 it12486.96 from12487.12 its12487.36 accurate12487.6 description.12488 It12489.36 is12489.44 a12489.6 practice12489.76 imposed12490.32 by12491.04 the12491.28 hypocritical12491.44 for12492.16 over12492.4 200012492.64 years.12493.12 It12494.64 claims12494.88 that12495.44 physicians12495.6 can12496.16 accurately12496.4 determine12496.96 a12497.44 patient's12497.52 death12498 within12498.24 612498.64 months.12498.88 Evidence12499.57 in12499.97 the12500.2 medical12500.28 literature12500.6 says12501.49 otherwise12501.73 shows12502.52 that,12502.77 greater12503.57 than12503.97 5012504.2 percent12504.44 of12504.85 the12504.93 time,12505.08 physicians'12505.89 prognoses12507.25 are12508.05 incorrect.12508.36 It12509.49 claims12509.65 the12510.05 patients12510.2 can12510.6 anticipate12510.85 a12511.49 peaceful12511.57 death12512.05 with12512.36 no12512.6 evidence12512.85 supporting12513.65 such12514.2 a12514.36 claim.12514.52 Most12515.54 bills12515.7 involving12516.66 this,12517.62 encourage12518.58 non12519.54 tracking12519.94 and12521.46 not12521.86 accurately12522.34 monitoring12522.98 this12524.1 procedure.12524.5 There's12525.22 no12525.46 112525.62 present12525.86 to12526.66 describe12526.9 what12527.46 is12527.7 really12527.94 an12528.18 experimental12528.42 practice.12529.22 And12530.56 this12531.19 it,12531.35 is12531.52 focused12533.19 on,12533.6 maximizing12535.27 the12536.48 procedure12536.64 and12537.27 not12537.83 protecting12538.24 the12539.11 most12539.27 vulnerable12539.6 patients12540.16 who12540.88 are12541.03 at12541.11 greatest12541.27 risk12541.83 at12541.99 a12542.15 great,12542.4 very12542.95 vulnerable12544.28 time.12544.76 The12545.96 practitioners12546.12 of12546.92 this12548.04 continue12548.28 to12548.76 alter12548.92 the12549.24 experimental12549.48 concoctions12550.36 of12550.92 medication12551 because12552.04 of12552.44 unpleasant,12552.68 patient12553.88 experiences12554.6 which12555.96 are12556.2 often12556.36 unwitnessed12556.84 by12557.48 trained12557.64 observers12558.28 which12559.42 seems12559.67 to12560.06 be12560.63 the12561.67 design12562.15 of12562.47 this12562.55 legislation12562.94 so12564.39 as12564.55 to12564.7 keep12564.78 it12564.94 in12565.34 the12565.67 dark12566.23 and12566.7 not12566.94 understood12567.26 well.12567.82 Some12568.78 patients12569.1 can12571.52 take12571.68 many12571.92 hours12572.32 to,12572.72 after12573.28 taking12573.68 these12574 experimental12574.32 medications12575.04 and12576.16 I12576.64 would12576.8 hardly12577.04 call12577.36 this12577.52 a12577.76 peaceful12577.92 death.12578.32 Doctors12579.2 are12579.76 encouraged12579.92 to12580.4 inaccurately12580.56 portray12581.2 the12581.6 cause12581.68 of12582 death12582.08 to12582.4 protect12582.48 the12583.2 executioner12583.44 from12584.08 legal12584.24 liability12584.64 rather12585.28 than12585.68 focusing12585.92 accurate12587.19 tracking12587.75 and12588.48 patient12588.72 safety12589.67 and12590.4 comfort.12590.8 This12591.75 practice12592 is12592.48 likely12592.64 to12593.03 polarize12593.27 and12593.75 alter12594 and12595.35 alter,12595.41 interaction12595.51 between12597.92 physicians12598.23 and12598.72 hospital12598.95 employees12599.43 whose12600.37 constrances12600.61 will12601.41 undoubtedly12601.73 clash12602.45 in12603.41 a12603.57 system12603.73 that12604.13 requires12604.29 mutual12604.85 cooperation12605.41 and12606.45 untenable12606.69 coverage12607.33 situations12607.81 that12608.85 will12609.01 further12609.25 stress12609.73 a12610.29 already12610.45 faltering12610.77 healthcare12611.33 system.12611.81
12614.41 SPEAKER2412614.41 -12614.41 Thank12614.41 you,12614.65 doctor12614.89 quarantine.12615.36
12616.17 SPEAKER412616.17 -12616.17 Increasing12616.17 access.12616.57
12622.57 SPEAKER112622.57 -12622.57 Thank12622.57 you.12622.81 If12623.13 you12623.28 wish12623.44 to12623.69 submit12624.17 further12624.73 testimony,12625.13 please12625.69 do12626.09 to12626.25 the12626.41 committee.12626.49
12628.35 SPEAKER412628.35 -12628.35 Okay.12628.35 Thank12628.75 you.12628.91
12629.31 SPEAKER112629.31 -12629.31 Thank12629.31 you12629.55 for12629.71 your12629.87 time.12630.03
12632.67 At12632.67 this12632.99 time,12633.23 I12633.79 would12633.95 welcome,12634.19
12637.95 Joanne12637.95 Visiello.12639.39
12643.6 Believe,12643.6 Joanne,12644 you12644.4 might12644.56 be12644.73 with12644.89 us12645.05 by12645.2 way12645.44 of12645.6 Teams.12645.76
12650.17 Okay.12650.17 At12652.4 this12652.65 time,12652.89 Janet12654.56 Simons12655.13 Folger.12655.68
12678.09 SPEAKER6012678.09 -12678.09 Chairwoman12678.09 Decker,12678.81 chairman12679.38 Driscoll,12679.77 and12680.25 committee12680.41 members,12680.81 thank12681.3 you12681.45 for12681.61 meeting12681.85 permitting12682.41 me12682.81 to12683.96 testify12684.12 in12684.76 favor12684.92 of12685.24 an12685.4 act12685.72 relative12685.96 to12686.44 end12686.6 of12686.76 life12686.92 options.12687.24 My12688.44 name12688.6 is12688.76 Janet12689 Simons12689.4 Folger,12689.96 and12690.44 I12690.68 am12690.84 here12691 for12691.32 the12691.56 seventh12691.8 or12692.2 eighth12692.44 time12692.76 on12693.08 behalf12693.24 of12694.36 my12694.52 late12694.76 husband,12694.92 David.12695.4 Dave12696.6 started12697.52 the12697.85 oceanographic12698 program12698.97 at12699.36 Middlebury12699.6 College12700.17 in12700.57 Vermont12700.73 before12701.2 moving12701.52 to12701.85 Falmouth12702.08 to12703.13 lead12703.28 the12703.52 US12703.77 Geological12704.08 Survey.12704.81 He12705.77 was12705.92 a12706.08 retired12706.25 navy12706.81 captain,12707.28 an12708.17 active12708.49 outdoorsman,12708.89 a12710.25 husband12710.49 and12710.97 father12711.2 of12711.6 5,12711.85 and12714.27 his12714.59 smile12714.91 and12715.23 enthusiasm12715.47 are12716.27 legendary.12716.51
12721.55 Dave12721.55 passionately12722.03 believed12722.75 in12723.15 the12723.31 right12723.47 of12723.71 self12723.87 determination12724.19 at12724.99 the12725.15 end12725.23 of12725.47 life.12725.63 He12726.43 was12726.67 diagnosed12726.91 in12727.55 January12727.79 201712728.68 with12729.57 terminal12729.89 pancreatic12730.36 cancer12731.08 and12732.05 began12732.36 symptomatic12732.84 treatment12733.73 including12734.36 palliative12735 care12735.73 and12735.97 hospice.12736.36 When12737.73 Dave12737.97 was12738.28 diagnosed12738.6 diagnosed,12739.89 we12740.6 looked12740.84 into12741.08 a12741.49 move12741.57 back12741.89 to12742.2 Vermont12742.36 take12743.11 advantage12743.19 of12743.67 their12743.91 medical12744.15 aid12744.55 in12744.71 dying12744.87 law.12745.27 Unfortunately,12746.15 Dave's12747.11 illness12747.43 progressed12747.99 too12748.47 quickly12748.71 for12749.11 him12749.27 to12749.51 tolerate12749.67 the12750.23 physical12750.39 difficulty12750.95 of12751.43 the12751.59 move.12751.83 How12752.79 is12752.95 it12753.11 that12753.27 a12753.51 law12753.67 that12753.91 is12754.15 so12754.31 full12754.55 of12754.79 compassion12754.95 for12755.59 terminally12755.83 ill12756.47 individuals12756.79 in12757.58 Vermont12757.82 was12758.77 so12759.02 out12759.33 of12759.5 reach12759.66 to12760.06 my12760.22 suffering12760.45 husband12760.85 112761.42 state12761.66 over.12761.98 Dave12762.94 considered12763.33 taking12763.9 an12764.3 overdose12764.45 of12764.94 pain12765.17 medications12765.58 that12766.3 we12766.45 had12766.69 amassed12768.06 over12768.61 the12768.85 years12769.02 but12769.82 was12770.06 concerned12770.38 about12770.94 the12771.25 legal12771.66
12783.81 peace12783.81 of12783.97 mind12784.21 and12784.53 allow12784.77
12795.05 was12795.05
12800.89 underwent12800.89 palliative12801.45 chemotherapy12802.25 and12802.81 took12803.05 heavy12803.29 doses12803.53 of12804.01 oral12804.17 narcotics.12804.57 His12805.93 wonderful12806.33 caregivers12806.97 were12807.69 unable12807.85 to12808.41 make12809.13 his12809.21 pain12809.53 bearable.12809.93 By12811.13 the12811.37 end,12811.69
12815.68 Dave12815.68 by12816.25 the12816.49 February,12816.57 Dave12817.52 was12817.92 ready12818.08 for12818.41 death12818.65 as12819.44 he12819.6 had12819.76 connected12820 deeply12820.65 with12821.13 family12821.44 and12821.84 friends12822.08 and12822.57 he12822.73 felt12822.89 that12823.13 he12823.36 could12823.52 no12823.76 longer12824 tolerate12824.52 his12824.76 suffering.12825.16 In12826.04 mid12826.36 March,12826.68 after12827.16 discussion12827.48 with12828.12 his12828.36 care12828.52 team12828.84 and12829.08 our12829.24 family,12829.48 he12830.36 decided12830.68 to12831.08 stop12831.32 eating12831.64 and12831.88 drinking12832.12 as12832.52 the12832.68 only12832.84 way12833.16 to12833.4 end12833.56 his12833.72 terrible12834.04 suffering.12834.44 My12835.48 husband12835.72 was12836.28 not12836.6 suicidal.12837.32 He12839 loved12839.32 life.12839.72 In12840.92 the12841.08 days12841.24 before12841.64 his12842.03 death,12842.27 Dave12842.67 suffered12843.16 with12843.56 agitated12843.95 end12844.75 of12844.92 life12845.08 delirium,12845.48 thrashing,12846.59 pleas12847.56 for12847.88 help,12848.11 labored12848.83 breathing12849.32 and12849.8 ever12850.03 increasing12850.35 and12851 spreading12851.24 pain.12851.72 It12852.45 was12852.61 a12852.77 horrible12852.93 death.12853.41 Dave12854.45 did12854.93 not12855.17 feel12855.49 he12855.81 was12855.97 a12856.21 burden12856.29 to12856.77 us.12856.93 We12857.73 were12857.97 privileged12858.61 to12859.17 spend12859.41 his12859.73 final12859.97 intimate12860.45 weeks12860.85 with12861.17 him.12861.41 I12862.29 promised12862.53 Dave12863.01 that12863.25 he12863.41 would12863.57 be12863.73 able12863.89 to12864.13 remain12864.29 in12864.69 our12864.85 bed12865.01 next12865.33 to12865.57 me12865.73 until12865.89 his12866.29 death.12866.53 In12867.41 the12867.56 last12867.73 week12868.13 of12868.28 his12868.52 life,12868.68 I12869.08 broke12869.25 this12869.56 promise12869.89 because12870.28 he12870.6 was12870.76 developing12871 painful12871.65 bedsores12872.2 and12872.84 toileting12873.08 was12873.56 excruciating.12874.13 What12875.73 would12875.97 it12876.13 have12876.28 mattered12876.52 to12877.17 anyone12877.48 other12877.97 than12878.2 Dave12878.36 and12878.6 our12878.76 family12879 if12879.56 he12879.73 had12879.89 been12880.05 given12880.2 the12880.52 opportunity12880.76 to12882.13 choose12882.44 an12882.76 earlier12883.14 death12884.26 when12884.74 he12885.06 was12885.22 alert12885.38 and12885.78 relatively12886.02 peaceful12886.74 and12887.22 could12887.62 have12887.78 avoided12888.02 the12888.58 unremitting12888.82 pain12889.62 and12890.02 severe12890.26 difficulties12890.82 that12892.26 took12892.42 his12892.74 away12892.98 away12894.26 his12894.58 enjoyment12894.82 of12895.38 life.12895.54 Before12897.44 Dave12897.77 died,12898.17 he12898.41 asked12898.57 me12898.81 to12898.97 fight12899.13 for12899.36 the12899.6 passage12899.77 of12900.17 a12900.25 medical12900.41 aid12900.89 in12901.13 dying12901.28 law12901.84 in12902.65 Massachusetts12903.05 so12904.41 others12904.73 would12905.2 not12905.44 have12905.77 to12906.08 needlessly12906.33 suffer12908.08 excruciating12908.49 deaths.12909.52 Please12910.65 help12911.53 all12911.77 the12911.93 Daves12912.17 out12912.57 there12912.81 and12913.29 move12913.61 this12913.93 bill12914.25 quickly12914.73 and12915.21 favorably12915.37 out12916.09 of12916.25 committee.12916.41 Thank12916.97 you.12917.13 Sorry.12918.01
12918.89 SPEAKER112918.89 -12918.89 It's12918.89 okay.12919.05 Thank12919.45 you.12919.69 This12920.01 yeah.12920.33
12929.44 Theresa12929.44 Visconti.12930.09
12959.17 SPEAKER6112959.17 -12959.17 My12959.17 name12959.33 is12959.5 Teresa12959.74 Visconti.12960.22 I'm12960.85 a12961.01 Massachusetts12961.17 native12961.98 and12962.53 a12962.77 pharmacist.12962.94 I12964.22 was12964.38 planning12964.61 on12964.94 going12965.09 through12965.33 the12965.5 progression12965.66 of12966.14 what12966.45 we've12966.69 been12966.94 through12967.09 with12967.25 patients12967.42 having12967.82 to12968.14 swallow12968.41 large12969.29 amounts12969.69 of12970.09 pills12970.25 and12970.65 vomiting12970.89 and12972.01 up12972.17 to12972.33 the12972.41 cocktails12972.57 that12973.05 we12973.29 have12973.37 today.12973.61 But,12974.17 speaking12976.49 with12976.89 colleague12977.13 pharmacist12978.01 colleagues12978.65 in12979.13 states12979.37 where12979.85 assisted12980.25 suicide12980.81 is12981.37 legal,12981.53 I12982.67 continue12982.92 to12983.31 hear12983.48 horror12983.8 stories12984.11 of12984.67 seizures12984.83 and12985.8 long12985.95 drawn12986.35 out12986.67 deaths12986.92 because12987.56 the12988.11 effectiveness12988.19 of12988.83 these12989 cocktails12989.31 is12989.95 highly12990.11 variable12990.51 depending12991.31 on12991.72 the12991.88 patient's12991.95 weight,12992.43 muscle12993.07 mass,12993.48 physical12994.03 condition,12994.51 etcetera.12995.15 Because12996.58 this12996.9 entire12997.22 industry12997.62 has12998.1 been12998.26 shrouded12998.42 in12998.82 secrecy,12999.06 we13000.02 have13000.18 little13000.34 concrete13000.66 data13001.22 and13001.78 thousands13002.1 of13002.58 horror13002.82 stories13003.22 from13003.7 family13003.94 members13004.26 who13004.66 witnessed13004.9 non13005.86 peaceful13006.18 deaths13007.06 of13007.46 their13007.62 loved13007.78 ones.13008.02 Suffering13008.98 patients13009.46 have13009.94 been13010.1 turned13010.34 into13010.5 human13010.82 guinea13011.22 pigs13011.54 in13012.17 an13012.33 uncontrolled13012.58 decades13013.77 long13014.33 experiment13015.14 called13015.69 compassionate13016.01 care13016.65 or13016.9 death13017.14 with13017.45 dignity13017.61 when13018.42 it13018.65 was13018.81 anything13018.98 but13019.53 that.13019.93 I13021.14 believe13021.38 this13021.69 cruel13022.01 and13022.42 unusual13022.58 punishment13023.22 of13023.69 patients13023.85 and13024.17 their13024.33 family13024.5 members13024.9 needs13025.53 to13026.01 stop.13026.33 We13027.56 have13027.72 sufficient13028.2 legally13029 approved13029.4 and13029.88 clinically13030.04 tested13030.6 medications13031.08 to13032.2 keep13032.44 patients13032.68 comfortable13033.24 and13034.04 pain13034.36 free13034.76 during13035.56 their13036.04 end13036.36 of13036.52 life13036.68 transition.13037.24 We13038.28 do13038.52 not13038.76 need13039 to13039.4 be13039.56 helping13039.72 kill13040.12 innocent13040.76 human13041.4 beings.13041.72 As13042.69 doctor13043.01 Peter13043.33 Kreeft13043.65 from13044.05 Boston13044.2 College13044.6 and13045.01 others13045.17 have13045.57 told13045.73 us,13046.52 those13046.6 who13046.93 commit13047.17 suicide13047.65 go13048.69 through13048.93 considerably13049.33 worse13049.97 suffering13050.28 and13050.85 torment13051.09 after13051.81 death13052.13 than13052.93 anything13053.17 they13053.73 would13053.89 have13054.05 experienced13054.28 prior,13055.01 and13055.73 there,13056.05 they13056.6 cannot13056.77 get13057.25 themselves13057.49 out13058.05 of13058.2 it.13058.88 Those13058.96 who13059.28 assist13059.52 them13059.84 or13060.24 assent13060.56 to13060.96 this13061.12 have13061.6 committed13061.84 a13062.24 grave13062.32 evil.13062.64 They13063.36 and13063.68 their13063.92 families13064.16 and13064.72 our13065.12 land13065.36 suffer13066.16 great13066.56 consequences13066.96 as13067.76 a13067.92 result.13068.08 When13069.04 my13069.28 father13069.44 was13069.76 diagnosed13070 with13070.48 a13070.64 rare13070.72 cancer13070.96 and13071.44 given13071.6 513071.91 months13072.23 to13072.31 live,13072.55 I13073.27 saw13073.42 healthcare13073.67 professionals13074.07 and13074.63 others13074.86 try13075.1 to13075.34 convince13075.5 him13075.83 to13075.99 end13076.15 his13076.31 life.13076.47 He13077.19 lived13077.42 1713077.99 years.13078.63 From13079.27 what13079.5 I've13079.75 seen13080.07 in13080.7 my13080.86 year13081.02 many13081.42 years13081.67 as13081.99 a13082.15 pharmacist13082.31 and13083.19 with13083.42 my13083.67 personal13083.75 experiences,13084.15 we13084.94 do13085.19 not13085.58 need13086.23 assisted13086.78 suicide13087.19
13099.71 medications13099.71 will13100.27 be13100.43 properly13100.51 disposed13101.07 of13101.77 and13101.85 not13102.25 misused13102.5 by13103.22 others.13103.38 We13104.25 should13104.5 not13104.74 deceive13105.3 people13105.69 into13106.17 thinking13106.5 suicide13106.9 is13107.45 not13107.69 suicide13108.25 by13109.14 changing13109.38 its13109.77 name13110.01 to13110.42 make13110.66 it13110.82 more13110.98 palatable.13111.22 We13112.74 should13112.98 not13113.3 require13113.69 medical13114.56 professionals13115.68 who13115.76 choose13116 not13116.4 to13116.64 be13116.8 involved13116.96 in13117.36 this13117.52 agenda13117.76 to13118.32 have13118.48 to13118.72 refer13118.88 patients13119.28 to13119.68 others13119.84 who13120.16 will.13120.32 This13120.88 still13121.2 makes13121.44 us13121.76 complicit13122 in13122.48 the13122.64 intentional13122.8 killing13123.36 of13123.92 an13124.08 innocent13124.32 human13124.88 being,13125.36 nor13126.65 should13126.97 we13127.2 require13127.44 them13127.85 to13128.08 provide13128.25 all13128.73 the13128.97 written13129.05 documents13129.44 described13130.25 in13130.65 this13130.81 bill.13130.97 Saying13131.85 no13132.41 should13132.89 be13133.05 enough.13133.2 We13134 should13134.17 not13134.33 open13134.57 the13134.81 door13134.89 to13135.2 youth13135.28 suicides13135.6 or13136.08 other13136.25 abuses13136.49 as13136.97 we13137.13 see13137.2 in13137.36 other13137.44 states.13137.69 We13138.17 should13138.33 not13138.49 make13138.73 Massachusetts13138.97 into13139.69 a13139.93 killing13140 mecca13140.45 like13141.01 Colorado13141.41 or13141.97 Vermont,13142.13 and13142.61 we13142.77 should13143.01 not13143.17 continue13143.81 calling13144.21 evil13144.61 good13145.01 and13145.25 good13145.49 evil.13145.73 What13146.29 we13146.45 should13146.61 do13146.85 is13147.25 get13147.41 back13147.65 to13147.89 speaking13148.05 the13148.37 truth,13148.53 calling13149.09 evil13149.57 out13149.81 for13149.97 what13150.13 it13150.37 is,13150.53 and13150.85 truly13151.01 lovingly13151.41 supporting13152.05 the13152.47 dignity13152.7 of13153.26 every13153.42 human13153.83 being13154.15 to13154.55 the13154.7 moment13154.86 of13155.1 natural13155.26 death13155.67 regardless13155.98 of13156.78 their13156.94 physical13157.18 or13157.67 mental13157.91 health13158.31 or13158.55 capabilities.13158.7 In13159.67 Massachusetts,13159.91 we13160.47 pride13160.7 ourselves13160.94 with13161.34 our13161.5 intelligence.13161.67 What13162.55 we13162.7 need13162.94 now13163.18 is13163.42 wisdom.13163.67 Killing13164.55 an13164.86 innocent13165.02 human13165.42 being13165.75 is13166.06 not13166.31 an13166.78 heroic13167.25 act.13168.05 Lovingly13168.29 accompanying13168.93 through13169.41 them13169.81 through13170.13 to13170.37 the13170.53 end13170.69 is.13171.09 Let's13171.73 choose13171.97 to13172.37 do13172.45 what13172.61 is13172.77 most13173.01 life13173.25 giving13173.49 and13174.13 bring13174.29 blessings,13174.61 not13175.33 evil,13175.65 upon13176.29 us13176.61 and13177.17 our13177.41 land.13177.57 Please13178.21 vote13178.61 no13179.01 on13179.49 these13179.65 bills.13179.89 They13180.45 are13180.69 not13180.85 in13181.33 the13181.49 best13181.65 interest13182 of13182.16 our13182.32 citizens13182.64 or13183.35 our13183.92 great13184.08 commonwealth.13184.4
13185.03 SPEAKER113185.03 -13185.03 Thank13185.03 you.13185.27 Thank13186.95 you.13187.19 At13187.35 this13187.59 time,13187.75 I13188.16 would13188.4 welcome,13188.64 Jessica13190.56 Rogers.13191.27
13209.19 SPEAKER6213209.19 -13209.19 Good13209.19 afternoon.13209.44 Thank13210.32 you,13210.64 honorable13210.88 members13211.27 of13211.59 the13211.75 committee.13212.16 My13213.19 name13213.35 is13213.44 Jessica13213.67 Rogers.13214.16 I'm13214.56 the13214.8 Coalition's13215.03 Director13215.67 for13216.08 the13216.32 Patients'13216.56 Rights13217.03 Action13217.44 Fund13217.83 and13218.16 I'm13218.48 here13218.64 in13218.8 opposition13219.03 to13219.59 the13219.75 assisted13219.92 suicide13220.32 bills13220.8 before13221.03 you13221.35 today.13221.51 As13222.88 you're13223.11 consider13223.44
13229.63 already13229.63 legal.13229.79 And13230.11 that13230.67 data13230.83 makes13230.99 it13231.15 clear13232.43 that13232.51 the13233.07 supposed13233.31 safeguards13233.87 are,13234.51 unfortunately,13234.75 nothing13235.47 more13235.79 than13236.13 smoke13236.28 screens13236.52 with13237.41 no13237.65 protection13237.89 for13238.36 vulnerable13238.6 patients13239.25 who13239.81 need13240.05 support13240.28 in13240.6 living.13240.76 Assisted13242.28 suicide13242.76 is13243.17 legal13243.33 in13243.65 Colorado13243.81 where13244.68 young13244.92 women13245.17 with13245.56 anorexia13245.81 have13246.6 been13246.68 given13246.84 drugs13247.17 to13247.49 end13247.65 their13247.81 life.13248.65 Despite13249.05 being13249.45 a13249.69 treatable13249.93 mental13250.41 health13250.81 condition,13251.13 these13252.01 young13252.25 women13252.49 died13252.97 in13253.29 state13253.53 sanctioned13253.85 suicides13254.41 after13255.61 receiving13255.93 lethal13256.41 drugs13256.81 from13257.13 a13257.37 physician.13257.45 Similarly,13258.97 in13259.45 Oregon,13259.69 diabetes13260.17 has13260.73 been13260.89 a13261.05 qualifying13261.13 condition.13261.85 And13263.05 to13263.37 be13263.45 clear,13263.73 anorexia13264.2 would13264.84 qualify13265.16 here13265.65 in13265.89 Massachusetts13266.13 as13267 well.13267.16 The13268.05 language13268.28 of13268.76 the13269 Massachusetts13269.16 bill13269.89 is13270.44 a13270.68
13276.93 terminal.13276.93 That's13277.33 the13277.73 justification13277.89 that13278.33 was13278.77 used13279.01 in13279.17 Colorado.13279.41 I13281.81 wonder13282.05 if13282.45 the13282.69 committee13282.77 would13283.09 be13283.25 surprised13283.41 that13284.37 in13284.69 almost13284.85 3013285.33 years13285.65 in13285.89 Oregon,13286.05 7013287.25 percent13287.81 of13288.61 patients13288.77 have13289.41 never13289.73 mentioned13289.97 pain13290.45 or13291.33 fear13291.86 of13292.02 future13292.19 pain13292.67 as13293.55 a13293.7 reason13293.78 for13294.1 their13294.27 request.13294.5 Only13295.15 3013295.55 percent13295.94 of13296.75 patients13296.99 in13297.47 almost13297.7 3013298.02 years.13298.42 So13299.23 why13299.55 are13299.94 people13300.42 requesting13300.99 this?13301.47 In13302.5 practice,13302.75 it13303.78 is13303.94 for13304.19 reasons13304.42 of13304.83 disability13305.07 and13306 not13306.32 wanting13306.48 to13306.72 be13306.8 a13306.96 burden13307.12 on13307.84 their13308 friends13308.16 and13308.48 their13308.64 family.13308.8 I13310.64 was13310.8 a13310.96 caregiver13311.12 for13311.68 my13311.92 mother13312.08 who13312.56 fought13313.04 and13313.36 ultimately13313.52 died13314 from13314.24 ovarian13314.4 cancer,13315.04 outliving13316 her13316.56 initial13316.8 terminal13317.2 prognosis13317.68 by13318.4 313318.64 years.13318.88 And13320.45 as13320.61 a13320.85 caregiver13320.93 and13321.58 as13321.98 a13322.06 social13322.14 worker,13322.53 I13323.25 can13323.33 tell13323.5 you13323.74 that13323.9 when13324.14 someone13324.3 says13324.61 that13325.42 they13325.58 feel13325.74 like13325.98 a13326.14 burden,13326.3 the13327.33 appropriate13327.58 answer13328.14 has13328.45 never13328.77 been13329.09 to13329.42 agree13329.66 with13329.98 them13330.14 and13330.85 to13331.09 help13331.33 them13331.58 die.13331.82 Some13333.76 claim13333.92 the13334.24 bill's13334.4 provisions13334.8 protect13335.28 against13335.68 coercion,13336.16 but13336.72 all13336.96 of13337.04 these13337.12 are13337.28 circumventable.13337.52 And13338.32 the13338.56 reality13338.72 is13339.12 that13339.36 after13339.52 the13339.76 drugs13339.92 are13340.16 dispensed,13340.4 the13340.96 oversight13341.12 ends.13341.6 In13342.48 Oregon,13342.8 patients13343.36 have13343.68 held13343.92 on13344.16 to13344.32 these13344.48 drugs13344.72 for13345.04 years,13345.36 and13346.28 there's13346.44 no13346.68 further13346.84 oversight13347.24 that13347.81 that13348.05 patient13348.28 has13348.6 retained13348.92 capacity13349.4 and13350.28 there's13350.52 no13350.76 further13350.92 oversight13351.32 on13351.73 what13351.89 that13352.05 diagnosis13352.2 or13352.92 prognosis13353.08 is.13353.81 Behind13355.89 closed13356.44 doors13356.92 years13357.65 later13358.05 after13358.36 getting13358.68 these13359 drugs,13359.17 we13359.73 have13359.97 no13360.13 way13360.28 of13360.52 protecting13360.68 these13361.24 patients.13361.4 We13361.88 have13362.04 no13362.2 way13362.36 of13362.6 knowing13362.84 if13363.48 there's13363.64 coercion13364.36 from13364.92 tired13365.16 caregivers13365.64 or13366.2 greedy13366.36 heirs.13366.76 Patients13368.2 in13368.6 Oregon13368.76 also13369.16 self13369.48 report13369.72 asking13370.12 for13370.44 drugs13370.68 to13371 end13371.08 their13371.32 life13371.48 because13371.72 they're13372.04 concerned13372.28 about13372.76 the13373.08 financial13373.16 implications13373.72 of13374.44 treatment.13374.6 Over13375.48 the13375.8 last13375.88 few13376.2 years,13376.44 that13376.68 percentage13377.11 in13377.44 Oregon13377.83 continues13378.24 to13378.72 grow.13378.88 There13379.83 are13380.08 well13380.16 documented13380.48 instances13381.11 of13381.67 patients13381.83 denied13382.32 life13382.8 saving13383.03 treatment13383.35 by13383.75 the13383.92 same13384.08 insurance13384.32 companies13384.8 that13385.27 cover13385.51 assisted13385.83 suicide.13386.4 There13387.27 is13387.51 no13387.75 autonomy13388.24 in13389.19 a13389.35 system13389.51 that13390.16 is13390.32 not13390.48 equitable.13390.8 Thank13391.27 you.13391.51 Thank13392.14 you.13392.22
13393.26 SPEAKER113393.26 -13393.26 K.13393.26 At13393.58 this13393.74 time,13393.98 I13394.62 will13394.78 welcome,13395.02
13397.82 doctor13397.82 James13398.22 Kelly13398.54 who13399.1 will13399.26 be13399.42 joining13399.58 us13399.98 by13400.14 Teams.13400.38
13405.74 SPEAKER3013405.74 -13405.74 Can13405.74 you13405.98 hear13406.14 me?13406.38
13406.94 SPEAKER113406.94 -13406.94 We13406.94 can13407.1 hear13407.34 you.13407.58
13408.49 SPEAKER3013408.49 -13408.49 Okay.13408.49 Very13408.97 good.13409.2 Thank13410.08 you.13410.33 Good13411.28 afternoon.13411.6 I13412.08 am13412.25 doctor13412.49 James13412.89 Kelly.13413.28 I'm13413.68 a13413.92 physician13414.17 and13415.52 a13415.92 psychiatrist13416.41 of13418 3913418.33 years.13418.97 I13419.52 am13419.68 speaking13419.92 on13420.41 behalf13420.56 of13421.13 the13421.28 Nationwide13421.44 Association13423.32 of13423.96 the13424.28 American13424.36 Physicians13425.08 and13425.88 Surgeons.13426.2 The13427.64 AMA13427.96 code13428.52 of13428.76 ethical13428.92 medical13429.56 ethics13430.04 states,13430.44 and13431.16 I13431.4 quote,13431.56 physician13432.68 assisted13433.32 suicide13433.96 is13435.25 fundamentally13435.56 incompatible13436.84 with13438.52 the13438.92 physician's13439.25 role13440.13 as13440.52 healer.13440.84 Instead,13442.13 the13443.25 physician13443.56 must13444.52 respond13445.49 to13445.97 the13446.2 patient's13446.36 needs.13446.92 I13447.81 wanna13447.89 repeat13448.2 that.13448.6 Physician13449.93 assisted13450.49 suicide,13451.05 and13451.61 that13451.85 is13452.09 the13452.33 correct13452.49 term,13452.97 is13454.09 fundamentally13454.57 incompatible13456.01 with13456.89 the13457.13 role13457.29 of13458.09 the13458.25 physician13458.49 as13459.21 healer.13459.53 Instead13460.57 of13461.61 physician13461.85 assisted13462.57 suicide,13463.21 the13464.51 physician13464.75 must13465.31 respond13465.7 to13466.59 the13466.83 patient's13467.07 needs.13467.63 You're13468.99 hearing13469.23 many13469.7 nice13470.1 euphemisms13470.59 today.13471.47 To13473.07 avoid13473.31 the13473.78 accurate13474.02 terms,13474.67 physician13476.1 assisted13476.67 suicide13477.23 or13478.37 physician13478.61 assisted13479.17 murder.13479.97 That's13480.77 what13481.09 suicide13481.49 is.13482.13 The13483.01 terms13483.33 are13483.65 being13483.81 used.13484.37 The13486.13 euphemisms13486.37 are13487.17 being13487.33 used13487.57 to13488.37 get13488.45 you13488.69 to13488.85 think13489.01 this13489.41 is13489.65 a13489.81 good13490.05 thing.13490.29 But13490.94 the13491.19 reality13491.35 is13491.99 is13492.55 that13492.7 this13492.86 is13493.1 killing13493.27 vulnerable13494.23 people.13494.78 Please13495.67 do13496.15 not13496.39 be13496.7 deceived.13496.94 Hypothetical13498.47 safeguards13499.35 are13499.99 in13500.15 this13500.23 bill,13500.55 but13501.19 they're13501.42 only13501.67 hypothetical.13502.15 They're13504.23 mostly13504.47 smokescreens13505.19 to13506.23 delude13506.47 you13506.87 into13507.03 a13507.43 sense13507.51 of13508.47 security.13509.91 They13511.91 will13512.15 be13512.31 reinterpreted.13512.55 They13513.91 will13514.15 be13514.39 challenged13514.71 in13515.19 court.13515.43 They13515.91 will13516.15 be13516.31 changed,13516.63 and13517.65 they13517.81 will13518.05 be13519.17 eliminated.13519.25 And13519.97 this13520.28 will13520.52 be13520.69 the13520.92 first13521.08 step13521.41 to13522.28 euthanasia13522.6 in13523.33 Massachusetts.13523.57 House13525.49 bill13525.89 2513526.44 013527.33 8,13527.65 senate13527.97 bill13528.36 1413528.69 8613529.25 will13530.6 weaponize13531 physicians13532.91 and13533.55 the13533.87 medical13534.03 industry13534.67 against13535.87 the13536.27 most13536.51 vulnerable13536.91 patients13537.47 for13537.95 profit13538.19 and13539.15 legalize13539.55 abandoning13540.75 medical13541.63 ethics13542.11 and13542.59 the13542.75 Hippocratic13542.91 Oath13543.55 by13543.87 physicians.13544.11 Massachusetts13545.63 has13547.39 outlawed13547.7 the13549.23 death13549.55 penalty13549.86 for13550.66 violent13550.98 murderers13551.47 because13552.1 it's13552.42 cruel13552.74 and13553.15 inhumane.13553.39 This13554.58 bill13554.9 reestablishes13555.39 the13556.58 death13556.74 penalty13557.06 for13558.02 law13558.26 abiding13558.58 citizens13559.23 by13560.26 using13560.58 the13561.15 same13561.31 cruel13562.42 and13563.06 inhumane13563.46 drugs13564.42 that13565.46 are13565.78 used13566.1 in13566.66 the13566.9 death13567.14 penalty.13567.46 I13568.82 also13569.06 work13569.46 with13569.7 incarcerated13570.02 patients.13570.82 They're13571.94 another13572.34 group13572.82 of13573.06 vulnerable13573.3 patients.13574.1 If13575.62 this13576.55 bill13576.78 passes,13577.1 they13577.75 will13577.98 suffer13578.39 because13579.42 profits13579.98 will13580.94 always13581.18 be13581.9 greater13582.23 when13582.7 we13583.02 substitute13583.26 death13584.15 for13585.1 health13585.42 care.13585.67 This13586.47 bill13586.78 weaponizes13587.1 physicians13588.15 against13588.78 patients.13589.18 Please13590.18 do13590.42 not13590.66 authorize13591.06 us13591.78 physicians13592.1 to13593.14 kill13593.38 people.13593.78 Vote13594.58 no13595.06 on13595.86 this13596.42 bill.13596.98
13597.94 SPEAKER113597.94 -13597.94 Thank13597.94 you13598.26 for13598.42 your13598.58 time.13598.82 At13599.7 this13599.94 time,13600.26 I13600.74 would13600.9 welcome,13601.14
13603.86 doctor,13603.86 No.13604.74
13607.26 SPEAKER1813607.26 -13607.26 Let's13607.26 see.13607.58
13609.02 SPEAKER113609.02 -13609.02 Do13609.02 we13609.18 have13609.26 Joan13609.5 Kavanaugh?13609.83
13625.01 Okay.13625.01 Just13625.33 for13625.57 the13625.81 edification13625.97 of13626.53 members,13626.69 we13627.33 have13627.57 maybe13628.05 about13628.37 713628.69 folks13629.01 left.13629.25 We13629.57 have13629.73 a13629.81 lot13629.89 of13630.05 folks13630.13 from13630.29 outside13630.53 of13630.85 the13631.01 state13631.09 who13631.33 are13631.49 interested13631.65 in13632.05 in13632.67 weighing13632.83 in13633.07 at13633.31 this13633.39 time.13633.55 And13633.86 so13634.1 just13634.42 so13634.67 folks13634.91 can13635.23 manage13635.47 the13635.78 rest13635.86 of13636.02 their13636.1 schedule13636.34 for13636.75 the13636.83 day.13636.99 713637.47 more,13637.86 and13638.1 thank13638.34 you13638.58 to13638.75 all13638.91 of13639.07 the13639.23 members13639.31 who13639.7 are13639.86 still13640.02 here13640.26 and13640.42 listening.13640.67
13644.02 You're13644.02 Joan,13646.02 you're13646.34 on.13646.58 We13646.75 can13646.91 see13647.07 you.13647.23 Welcome.13647.91
13652.15 Joan,13652.15 we13652.55 can't13652.71 hear13652.95 you.13653.19
13659.35 Are13659.35 you13659.59 able13659.75 to13659.99 unmute?13660.23
13663.08 SPEAKER1313663.08 -13663.08 Okay,13663.08 Joan.13663.4 You13663.72 are13663.88 if13664.11 you're13664.35 not13664.51 able13664.67
13664.92 SPEAKER113664.92 -13664.92 to13664.92 unmute,13665 we'll13665.31 give13665.48 you13665.64 another13665.8 couple13666.03 of13666.35 seconds,13666.43 but13666.75 you're13666.92 also13667.08 welcome13667.4 to13667.8 submit13667.88 testimony13668.27 to13668.83 us13668.92 in13669.16 writing.13669.23
13672.67 We13672.67 still13673 can't13673.31 hear13673.56 you.13673.88
13681.05 SPEAKER1313681.05 -13681.05 Okay,13681.05 Joan.13681.53 We're13681.93 gonna13682.17 move13682.49 on13682.65
13682.81 SPEAKER113682.81 -13682.81 to13682.81 the13682.97 next13683.13 and,13683.45 you13685.37 are13685.61 welcome13685.77 to13686.17 submit13686.25 testimony.13686.65 Apologies13687.37 for13687.93 that.13688.09 At13689.53 this13689.69 time,13690.01 I13690.41 want13690.57 to13690.81 welcome,13691.05 Jules13692.33 Good.13693.22 Jules,13694.09 are13694.49 you13694.65 with13694.73 us13694.81 by13695.06 way13695.22 of13695.38 Teams?13695.53
13699.53 Okay.13699.53 Jules13699.93 is13700.33 not13700.49 here.13700.81 Alex,13702.25
13704.81 Schadenberg.13704.81
13709.21 SPEAKER6313709.21 -13709.21 Hello.13709.21 I'm13709.53 happy13709.69 to13710.01 be13710.09 here13710.25 with13710.49 you13710.57 today.13710.73 I'm13711.05 gonna13711.29 be13711.45 talking13711.61 to13711.85 you13711.93 a13712.01 bit13712.09 about13712.25 the13712.49 data13712.65 from13712.97 Oregon13713.37 and13713.77 what's13713.93 going13714.17 on13714.41 in13714.57 other13714.65 states.13715.05 So13715.69 I'm13715.85 the13716.09 executive13716.25 director13716.57 of13716.81 the13716.89 Euthanasia13716.97 Prevention13717.45 Coalition13717.85 in13718.25 The13718.33 US.13718.49 And13719.37 if13719.61 you13719.77 look13719.93 at13720.09 the13720.25 data13720.41 out13720.65 of13720.81 Oregon,13720.97 it's13721.37 very13721.53 important13721.85 to13722.25 point13722.33 out13722.57 that13722.73 the13722.85 of13723.05 the13723.21 60713723.82 lethal13724.77 prescriptions13725.17 that13725.82 were13725.98 written13726.22 in13726.94 202413727.17 and13727.82 the13727.9 202413728.06 data13728.69 and13729.33 37613729.58 reported13730.61 assisted13731.09 suicide13731.5 deaths,13731.98 the13732.77 ingestion13733.02 status13733.58 was13733.9 unknown13734.22 in13734.61 a13734.77 hundred13734.94 and13735.25 7813735.42 of13736.06 those.13736.14 So13737.06 the13737.42 oversight13737.78 of13738.34 the13738.5 law13738.66 is13739.38 very13739.62 much13739.86 of13740.18 a13740.34 problem13740.5 because13740.98 the13741.38 Oregon13741.62 Health13741.94 Authority13742.26 makes13742.66 it13742.82 quite13742.98 clear13743.22 they13743.7 have13743.86 no13744.1 authority13744.34 to13744.82 investigate13745.06 what13745.7 happens13745.94 to13746.5 those13746.74 other13746.98 hundred13747.14 and13747.38 78.13747.46 Now13748.02 some13748.18 of13748.34 those13748.5 hundred13748.74 and13748.98 7813749.14 will13749.78 be13749.94 people13750.1 who13750.42 died13750.82 a13751.14 natural13751.22 death.13751.54 Some13752.42 of13752.5 them13752.75 will13752.83 be13752.9 people13753.15 who13753.47 were13754.18 late13754.34 reported13754.67 assisted13755.06 suicide13755.55 deaths,13756.02 meaning13756.34 the13756.67 report13756.75 hadn't13757.06 come13757.31 in13757.47 yet,13757.63 or13758.02 they13758.18 died13758.42 in13758.75 2025.13758.98 They'll13760.34 die13760.58 in13760.83 this13760.98 year,13761.23 202513761.47 by13762.1 assisted13762.26 suicide.13762.67 But13763.47 some13763.7 of13763.86 them13763.94 could13764.18 be13764.34 underreported13764.58 or13765.47 nonreported13765.63 deaths,13766.5 but13766.93 you13767.09 can't13767.25 know13767.57 because13768.13 no13768.53 investigation13768.85 has13769.65 been13769.73 done13769.89 into13770.13 what's13770.37 happened13770.61 with13771.25 these13771.57 people.13771.81 Considering13773.33 that13773.97 the13774.21 Oregon13774.53 law13774.93 and13775.25 the13775.49 Massachusetts13775.81 law13776.53 uses13776.85 a13777.17 self13777.33 reporting13777.57 system,13778.13 meaning13778.69 the13779.09 doctor13779.17 carries13779.57 out13779.89 the13780.05 death13780.13 as13780.29 the13780.45 113780.53 responsible13780.69 for13781.25 reporting13781.41 death,13781.81 it13782.39 shouldn't13782.55 be13782.7 surprising13783.02 if13783.5 you13783.74 get13783.82 some13784.06 unreported13784.39 deaths.13785.02 Now,13785.67 similar13786.06 to13786.31 Massachusetts,13786.47 Oregon13787.98 requires13788.39 that13789.34 referral13789.9 for13790.31 psychiatric13790.63 assessment13791.26 if13791.9 there's13792.06 concerns.13792.39 But13793.42 in13793.74 in13794.23 2024,13794.55 only13795.42 313795.74 psychiatric13796.15 assessments13796.86 were13797.56 done13797.72 out13797.96 of13798.04 60713798.2 people13799.24 who13799.8 are13799.96 prescribed13800.12 the13800.52 lethal13800.68 dose.13801 So13801.96 the13802.12 other13802.28 thing13802.44 is13802.6 about,13802.68 complications.13803.4 In13803.96 Oregon,13804.28 there13804.6 was13804.84 913805.08 reported13805.4 complications13805.8 out13806.52 of13806.68 a13806.76 hundred13806.92 2113807.16 reports.13807.72 Now,13808.44 why13808.68 is13808.76 this13808.92 out13809.16 of13809.32 a13809.4 hundred13809.48 2113809.8 reports13810.2 in13810.52 2024?13810.76 And13811.64 that's13811.8 because13812.04 the13812.44 only13812.6 time13812.92 that13813.16 complications13813.77 can13814.33 be13814.5 reported13814.66 is13814.98 when13815.14 the13815.38 physician13815.53 was13815.94 at13816.09 the13816.25 death.13816.42 So13816.9 there's13817.06 only13817.22 22113817.77 reports13818.74 that13819.22 came13819.38 in13819.69 with13820.09 that13820.33 kind13820.5 of13820.66 information13820.9 on13821.38 it.13821.53 In13821.85 2023,13822.09 there13822.9 was13823.06 1013823.22 known13823.45 complications13823.69 out13824.82 of13824.98 a13825.14 hundred13825.3 and13825.53 213825.61 reports,13825.85 which13826.46 would13826.7 be13826.86 about13826.94 a13827.34 1013827.42 percent13827.58 complication13828.62 rate13829.18 in13829.74 2023.13829.9 The13831.26 other13831.42 thing13831.58 is13831.74 this13832.06 whole13832.22 thing13832.46 about13832.78 this13833.34 fast13833.66 death13833.98 is13834.22 it's13834.78 it's,13835.18 you13835.74 know,13835.82 nice13836.62 clean13837.34 death.13837.82 Well,13838.38 in13838.62 2023,13838.7 the13839.66 longest13839.82 time13840.3 of13840.54 death13840.7 was13841.34 13713841.67 hours13842.86 in13843.82 Oregon,13843.98 which13844.63 will13844.86 be13845.02 5.513845.26 days.13846.15 In13846.86 2024,13847.1 the13847.9 report13848.06 showed13848.47 that13849.02 the13849.26 time13849.42 of13849.67 death13849.82 range13850.06 from13850.7 713851.02 minutes13851.26 to13851.67 2613851.82 hours.13852.39 So13853.44 these13853.68 whole13853.92 this13854.24 whole13854.48 idea13854.64 that13854.88 these13855.04 would13855.2 be13855.28 peaceful,13855.76 quick,13856.88 gets,13857.28 it's13858.08 a13858.24 fallacy.13858.4 The13859.36 other13859.44 thing,13859.6 of13859.76 course,13859.92 is13860.16 that13860.32 nearly13860.56 every13860.96 US13861.2 state13861.44 that13861.68 has13861.84 legalized13861.92 assisted13862.4 suicide13862.64 has13863.04 expanded13863.28 their13863.68 lives.13863.84 And13864 why13864.16 is13864.32 this13864.48 important?13864.64 Because13865.45 Massachusetts13865.77 is13866.42 emphasizing13866.66 the13867.3 importance13867.45 of13868.25 this13868.42 tight13868.9 bill.13869.53 Well,13870.17 the13870.42 tight13870.58 bill13870.9 or13871.45 the13871.69 bill13871.85 that's13872.09 written13872.25 specifically13872.66 to13873.77 be13874.01 how13874.5 it13874.66 is13874.74 seen13874.9 as13875.14 the13875.38 most13875.45 restrictive13875.77 in13876.25 The13876.42 US,13876.58 I13876.81 don't13876.98 actually13877.14 think13877.45 it13877.61 is.13877.77 Your13878.66 language13878.81 is13879.22 not13879.38 that13879.69 tight.13879.85 Nonetheless,13880.33 it's13881.51 designed13881.75 to13882.23 sell13882.39 the13882.63 bill13882.79 because13883.27 later13883.67 you13884.07 will13884.23 be13884.47 pressured13884.55 based13885.03 on13885.27 equality13885.51 and13886.31 by13886.55 the13886.71 assisted13886.79 suicide13887.27 lobby13887.83 to13888.31 expand13888.55 your13889.03 bill.13889.19 So13890.39 it's13890.71 important13890.95 to13891.35 say13891.43 that13891.59 even13891.83 JM13892.15 Sorrell13892.47 recognizes13892.95 this.13893.43 Thank13893.9 you.13894.69
13895.18 SPEAKER113895.18 -13895.18 You13895.18 are13895.33 welcome13895.5 to13895.74 submit13895.9 any13896.3 further13896.53 written13896.85 testimony13897.18 to13897.66 the13897.82 committee.13897.98 We13898.77 appreciate13898.85 your13899.25 time.13899.5
13899.82 SPEAKER6313899.82 -13899.82 Thank13899.82 you,13900.06 Mike.13900.22
13900.61 SPEAKER113900.61 -13900.61 Thank13900.61 you.13900.77 At13902.14 this13902.38 time,13902.61 on,13903.82 I13904.69 think,13904.85 Teams,13905.9 we13906.3 have13906.45 Ian13906.69 McIntosh.13907.02
13911.76 SPEAKER6413911.76 -13911.76 Great.13911.76 Thank13912 you.13912.16 Can13912.32 you13912.48 hear13912.64 me?13912.8
13913.12 SPEAKER113913.12 -13913.12 We13913.12 can13913.28 hear13913.52 you.13913.68 Welcome.13913.92
13915.12 SPEAKER6413915.12 -13915.12 Thank13915.12 you13915.36 so13915.52 much.13915.68 Members13915.84 of13916.16 the13916.24 committee,13916.32 my13916.72 name13916.88 is13916.96 Ian13917.2 McIntosh,13917.44 interim13918 executive13918.48 director13919.04 for13919.44 Not13919.6 Dead13919.84 Yet,13920.08 a13920.72 leading13920.8 national13921.2 disability13921.52 rights13922 organization13922.4 that13922.96 opposes13923.12 this13923.51 assisted13923.67 suicide.13924.07 And13924.56 on13924.72 behalf13924.8 of13925.19 members13925.27 in13925.59 Massachusetts13925.75 and13926.88 as13926.95 a13927.03 Canadian13927.19 with13927.59 disabilities13927.83 living13928.4 in13928.56 America,13928.72 I13929.19 urge13929.27 you13929.51 to13929.59 stop13929.75 these13929.99 assisted13930.23 suicide13930.72 bills13931.19 before13931.43 it's13931.75 too13931.83 late.13932.07 Autonomy13933.11 is13933.59 about13933.75 informed13934.07 choice13934.56 with13934.88 transparent13935.11 and13935.61 verifiable13935.93 information13936.57 but13937.05 when13937.21 readily13937.45 transparent13937.93 and13938.57 verifiable13938.65 information13939.29 runs13939.77 contrary13940.09 to13940.57 repeated13940.81 representation13941.29 it13942.49 can't13942.65 be13942.89 trusted.13943.13 Enter13943.85 unwitting13944.33 ableism13944.81 which13945.61 takes13945.93 many13946.17 forms13946.49 but13946.81 today13947.05 it13947.37 takes13947.45 the13947.46 form13947.46 in13947.47 this13947.48 legislature13947.48 discussing13947.49 real13947.49 health13947.5 care13947.51 bills13947.51 about13947.52 say13947.52 defibrillators13947.53 and13948.33 type13948.84
13955.65 of13955.65 selective13956.62 engagement13957.59 dares13958.56 to13959.53 raise13960.5 the13961.47 idea13962.44 that13962.84 That13963.86 type13964.26 of13964.58 selective13964.82 engagement13965.3 dares13965.86 to13966.18 raise13966.34 the13966.74 idea13966.98 that13967.38 all13967.62 national13967.86 disability13968.26 organizations13968.82 with13969.38 a13969.54 position,13969.62 the13970.34 AMA,13970.5 the13971.22 ACP,13971.46 the13972.02 National13972.18 Council13972.5 on13972.9 Disability13973.06 and13973.54 the13973.62 UN13973.78 Committee13974.02 on13974.34 the13974.5 Rights13974.58 of13974.82 Persons13974.9 with13975.3 Disabilities13975.46 and13976.56 its13976.8 treaty13976.95 which13977.35 was13977.51 based13977.75 on13977.99 the13978.15 ADA13978.31 and13978.72 American13978.88 disability13979.19 leadership13979.75 who13980.56 are13980.72 in13980.88 perception13981.03 of13981.51 all13981.59 available13981.75 verifiable13982.15 data13982.8 are13983.19 wrong.13983.43 Well,13983.75 you13983.99 are13984.23 right.13984.48 That13985.27 is13985.51 ableism.13985.75 Death13986.8 by13987.11 ableism13987.27 requires13987.75 limitless13988.31 terminological13988.8 elastic13989.75 elasticity13990.62 and13991.34 industrious13991.58 camouflage13992.22 rendering13993.42 words13993.9 and13994.14 promises13994.38 meaningless.13994.86 But13995.82 so13996.14 called13996.22 right13996.54 to13996.7 die13996.86 assisted13997.1 suicide13997.5 icon13998.22 Doctor.13998.62 Jack13999.02 Kevorkian13999.26 had13999.9 no14000.14 problem14000.38 calling14000.78 it14001.26 by14001.58 what14001.82 it14002.06 really14002.22 is14002.46 and14003.03 noting14003.27 its14003.59 Nazi14003.83 era14004.32 healthcare14004.64 origins14005.11 as14005.59 something14005.83 positive14006.16 saying,14006.72 quote,14007.03 I14007.75 believe14007.92 that14008.32 there14008.48 are14008.64 people14008.88 who14009.19 are14009.35 healthy14009.59 and14009.92 mentally14010.08 competent14010.56 enough14011.03 to14011.27 decide14011.51 on14011.83 suicide14012.24 and,14013.03 quote,14013.83 intense14014.24 emotionalism14014.8 engendered14015.67 by14016.16 the14016.32 constant14016.48 tration14017.16 camp14017.48 atrocities14017.88 of14018.44 World14018.6 War14018.92 214019.24 has14019.72 unfairly14019.96 stigmatized14020.52 this14021.24 honorable14021.56 concept14022.12 and14022.92 cloaked14023.16 it14023.48 in14023.64 silence.14023.88 Many14024.92 have14025.16 noted14025.32 the14025.64 momentum14025.72 of14026.12 1014026.28 legalized14026.52 states14027.08 of14027.32 DC14027.48 in14027.88 the14028.04 absence14028.2 of14028.52 concern14028.68 and14029.08 part14029.16 of14029.4 the14029.56 disability14029.64 community14030.2 with14030.92 the14031.08 furnishing14031.24 this14031.72 bill,14031.88 which14033.39 absolutely14033.63 falls14034.1 on14034.34 its14034.5 face.14034.75 So14034.98 I'm14035.15 holding14035.31 in14035.55 my14035.63 hand14035.78 a14035.94 report14036.1 from14036.42 NCD,14036.67 and14037.86 in14038.1 it,14038.26 it14038.58 notes14038.83 that14039.15 as14039.39 of14039.63 January14039.86 2029,14041.23 '214042.75 hundred14042.91 and14043.23 '6014043.55 '914043.86 attempts14044.1 were14044.42 defeated.14044.67 Since14045.23 then,14045.55 we're14045.94 over14046.26 300.14046.58 And14048.61 I14048.77 would14048.93 note14049.17 for14049.41 your14049.57 concern,14049.73 John14050.13 Kelly14050.37 and14050.61 Anita14050.69 Cameron14051.09 who14051.41 testified14051.57 on14052.13 on14052.45 their14052.53 behalf14053.01 of14053.57 NBY14053.73 are14054.53 on14054.77 pages14054.85 42,14055.25 4014055.81 3,14056.05 4014056.29 8,14056.61 and14056.77 4914056.93 of14057.81 this14057.97 federal14058.13 report.14058.61 I'd14059.73 like14059.89 to14060.05 ask14060.21 about14060.47 this14060.63 idea14060.86 of14061.18 reconciling14061.42 Canada14062.06 as14062.39 an14062.55 apples14062.7 to14062.94 oranges14063.1 comparison14063.58 with14064.06 The14064.23 US14064.39 by14064.63 US14064.78 proponents14065.02 and14065.9 by14066.15 extension14066.47 not14066.86 an14067.1 example14067.26 of14067.75 the14067.83 removal14067.9 of14068.31 these14068.39 so14068.63 called,14068.78 safeguards.14069.34 In14070.23 2016,14070.47 in14071.26 Compassion14071.42 and14071.9 Choices14072.06 posted14072.55 on14072.86 their14073.02 website14073.18 that14073.5 the14073.67 Canadian14073.75 government14074.23 followed14074.63 the14075.02 Oregon14075.18 model.14075.67 Last14076.44 year,14076.68 California's14076.92 end14077.72 of14077.88 life14078.04 options14078.28 act14078.76 author14079.08 noted14079.48 that14080.36 s14080.84 b14081 1114081.24 9614081.64 would14082.84 risk14083.4 the14083.8 gains14083.96 that14084.28 they've14084.44 made14084.68 for14084.92 going14085.16 too14085.48 far14085.72 too14086.12 soon.14086.36 Her14086.92 concern14087.16 wasn't14087.56 about14087.88 the14088.12 substance14088.28 of14088.68 the14088.76 bill,14088.92 but14089.08 the14089.32 perception14089.56 of14090.04 speed.14090.28 Thaddeus14091.51 Pope,14091.83 an14092.07 American14092.4 American14092.64 bioethicist14093.67 is14094.4 a14094.56 Fulbright14094.64 scholar14095.19 in14095.59 02/201914095.75 under14096.56 the14096.8 project14096.95 name14097.35 End14097.67 of14097.83 Life14097.99 Liberty14098.23 in14098.64 Canada14098.8 and14099.11 The14099.27 US.14099.43 Thank14099.75 you14099.92 for14099.99 your14100.23 time.14100.72
14101.11 SPEAKER114101.11 -14101.11 You14101.11 are14101.27 welcome14101.35 to14101.75 submit14101.92 any14102.23 further14102.48 testimony14103.03 in14103.67 writing.14103.83 Thank14104.48 you.14104.72
14105.11 SPEAKER6414105.11 -14105.11 Right.14105.11 Thank14105.67 you.14105.83
14106.5 SPEAKER114106.5 -14106.5 At14106.5 this14106.58 time,14106.9 I14107.38 would14107.54 welcome14107.78 Elaine14108.5 Marie14108.98 Cole.14109.54
14112.58 SPEAKER6514112.58 -14112.58 Okay.14112.58
14113.22 SPEAKER114113.22 -14113.22 Elaine14113.22 yeah.14113.62 Welcome14113.78 back,14114.1 Teams.14114.34
14115.7 SPEAKER6514115.7 -14115.7 Okay.14115.7 I'm14116.34 on.14116.58 Right?14116.9 Okay.14118.42
14121.92 My14121.92 name14122.17 is14122.48 Elaine14123.05 Marie14123.68 Kolb.14124.33 I14126.33 am14126.56 sitting14126.97 here14127.44 in14129.52 my14129.76 apartment14130 in14131.76 a14131.92 wheelchair14132.08 in14134.47 West14134.71 Haven,14135.03 Connecticut.14135.51 I14137.59 was14137.83 114138.07 of14138.31 the14138.47 people,14138.63 along14139.75 with14140.15 thousands14140.47 of14140.95 others,14141.11 who14142.15 demonstrated,14142.47 risked14143.35 our14143.67 lives,14143.83 and14145.35 many14145.59 of14145.83 us14146.07 got14146.23 arrested14146.47 to14147.17 get14147.42 the14147.58 Americans14147.81 with14148.3 Disabilities14148.61 Act14149.25 passed14149.58 3514150.45 years14151.25 ago.14151.58 I14154.06 was14154.3 also14154.61 ADAPT.14155.42 Look14156.06 it14156.22 up.14156.38 ADAPT.14156.69 I14158.38 also14158.69 a14159.45 spin14159.61 off14159.85 of14160.09 Adapt14160.41 was14160.89 not14161.13 dead14161.37 yet.14161.69 That14163.21 was14163.45 founded14163.69 in14165.53 1996.14165.85 Look14168.17 it14168.41 up.14168.57 Adapt.14169.05 Not14170.01 dead14170.25 yet14170.65 yet.14170.89
14174.53 Now14174.53 the14174.77 outcasts14175.09 of14176.06 the14176.69 outcasts14176.85 become14177.98 the14178.38 leaders14178.61 of14179.42 today.14180.06 The14182.06 ones14182.3 we14182.53 used14182.77 to14183.09 throw14183.25 away14183.81 to14184.53 die14184.77 are14185.73 teaching14185.97 us14186.45 a14186.77 better14187.01 way.14187.57 I'm14189.17 positive14189.65 if14190.69 you're14190.93 HIV,14191.65 you14192.93 can14193.17 understand14193.89 the14194.85 song.14195.09 The14196.93 last14197.09 will14197.41 be14197.65 first14197.89 and14198.29 the14198.77 first14198.93 will14199.25 be14199.49 last14199.65 and14200.17 there's14200.33 more14200.65 than14200.98 114201.3 way14201.61 to14201.93 be14202.09 strong.14202.58
14205.3 When14205.3 you14205.85 take14206.33 away14206.81 our14207.77 services,14208.25 we14209.22 don't14209.61 know14210.01 how14210.58 we'll14210.98 survive.14211.45 Since14213.34 death14213.82 is14214.22 cost14214.78 effective,14215.34 do14216.94 you14217.18 want14217.42 us14217.9 dead14218.38 or14218.7 alive?14219.02 When14220.54 you14220.86 take14221.18 away14221.9 the14222.54 things14222.86 we14223.34 need,14223.66 we14224.22 don't14224.38 know14224.78 how14225.26 we14225.74 will14225.98 cope.14226.46 When14227.83 you14228 cut14228.48 our14228.88 means14229.27 of14229.92 purity,14230.23 you14231.51 take14232.15 away14232.56 our14233.35 hope.14233.67 They're14234.23 gonna14234.48 take14234.72 away14234.95 Medicaid.14235.43 Millions14236.64 of14237.03 us14237.27 will14237.51 die14237.75 if14238.64 Medicaid14239.35 does14240.23 not14240.56 aid14241.03 us,14241.35 if14242.51 Medicare14242.99 does14243.79 not14244.03 care,14244.51 millions14246.59 of14247.23 us14247.47 will14248.03 suffer.14248.27 How14249.55 can14250.11 you14250.51 believe14250.75 that's14251.47 fair?14252.11
14254.69 If14254.69 you14254.94 want14255.42 to14255.9 cut14256.3 back14256.61 funding,14257.01 stop14257.74 the14258.53 welfare14258.77 for14259.58 the14260.06 rich.14260.38 Billions14262.45 bail14263.33 out14263.82 billionaires.14264.22 We're14265.66 trapped14266.14 down14266.71 the14266.95 ditch,14267.27 but14268.39 we're14268.79 not14269.11 dead14270.79 yet.14270.87 And14272.07 we14272.39 could14272.63 boogie14272.87 with14273.59 the14274.15 best14274.39 of14274.95 them.14275.35 We14275.83 are14276.07 not14276.39 dead14277.43 yet.14278.07 And14279.36 we14279.6 could14279.85 laugh14280.17 and14280.65 have14280.97 some14281.28 fun14281.85 because14282.17 we're14282.6 not14283.05 dead14284.81 yet.14285.6 We're14286.97 fighting14287.44 for14288.17 our14288.89 freedom14289.52 and14290.49 will14290.97 never14292 die14292.73 because14293.98 our14294.62 spirit14295.18 will14296.62 live14297.74 on14299.26 I'm14299.74 75.14300.14 I14301.82 was14301.98 literally14302.38 stabbed14303.1 in14303.9 the14304.14 back14304.38 resulting14305.42 in14306.14 a14306.38 spinal14306.62 cord14307.34 injury,14307.82 and14308.75 I'm14308.99 not14309.15 dead14309.63 yet.14310.02 And14310.67 I'm14310.91 absolutely14311.39 against14312.26 your14312.75 assisted14313.15 suicide.14313.78 If14315.07 you14315.31 pass14315.63 it,14315.94 you14316.58 will14316.75 be14316.99 killing14317.23 my14318.26 people.14318.58
14320.5 SPEAKER114320.5 -14320.5 Elaine14320.5 from14320.91 Connecticut.14321.15 I14321.7 have14321.78 to14321.94 tell14322.02 you14322.18 it's14322.45 the14322.53 first14322.69 I've14322.85 had14322.93 somebody14323.33 sing14323.73 their14323.97 testimony.14324.29 I14325.01 very14325.25 much14325.49 appreciated14325.81 it,14326.85 and,14327.01 thank14327.65 you14327.89 for14328.05 your14328.29 time.14328.61
14330.45 SPEAKER6514330.45 -14330.45 Well,14330.45 thank14330.85 you.14331.17 And14332.29 I14332.77 wrote14333.01 it14333.33 in14333.57 1996.14333.81 And14335.98 I'm14336.22 probably,14336.3 along14337.1 with14337.42 a14337.66 few14337.74 others14337.98 that14338.38 have14338.53 testified,14338.85 I'm14340.06 114340.3 of14340.45 the14340.61 people14340.77 who14341.1 has14341.33 demonstrated14341.74 and14342.53 got14342.69 arrested14343.02 and14343.5 risked14343.74 my14344.22 life14344.45 to14345.26 try14345.42 to14345.74 save14345.9 your14346.53 lives.14346.94
14347.82 SPEAKER114347.82 -14347.82 Thank14347.82 you,14348.06 Elaine.14348.3 Thank14348.85 you.14349.1
14352.86 Democracy,14352.86 we14353.42 we14353.82 want14353.9 people14354.3 using14355.18 their14355.42 voices.14355.58 Mhmm.14356.14 And14356.94 I14357.98 have14358.14 a14358.3 feeling14358.38 she's14358.7 been14358.94 at14359.1 a14359.26 lot14359.34 of14359.5 these14359.66 and14359.82 it's14360.54 what14360.7 makes14360.94 this14361.18 country14361.34 great.14361.82 So14362.3 thank14362.7 you.14362.94
14365.92 At14365.92 this14366.08 time,14366.32 I'm14367.44 I14367.92 have,14368.24
14371.68 Katie14371.68 Kelly.14372
14375.92 Okay.14375.92 Then14376.28 we14376.52 have14376.6 some14376.84 folks14376.92 who've14377.24 signed14377.48 up14377.64 for14377.8 day14378.04 who14378.52 we14378.92 our14379.24 rules14379.48 allow14379.88 you14380.12 to14380.36 sign14380.44 up14380.68 the14380.84 day14381 of14381.24 for14381.4 in14381.72 person14382.2 testifying,14382.68 so14383.16 we'll14383.4 go14383.56 to14383.72 that14383.88 list14384.04 next.14384.44 Thank14385.32 you.14385.56 Welcome.14385.8 Thank14386.36 you.14386.6
14392.5 Good14392.5 afternoon.14392.82 My14393.3 name14393.46 is14393.62 Katie14393.78 Kelly.14394.02 I14394.5 am14394.74 a14394.98 policy14395.22 counsel14395.7 attorney14396.18 with14396.74 Americans14397.06 United14397.62 for14397.94 Life.14398.18 Thank14399.3 you14399.54 for14399.7 your14399.86 time14400.1 and14400.26 your14400.42 service14400.58 today.14400.98 I14402.02 respectfully14402.26 urge14402.98 your14403.14 opposition14403.38 of14403.86 the14403.94 End14404.02 of14404.26 Life14404.34 Options14404.58 Act.14405.03 I14406.31 do14406.55 ask14406.79 that14406.95 you14407.11 not14407.27 take14407.51 this14407.75 opposition14407.91 as14408.79 any14409.19 attempt14409.75 to14410.23 trivialize14410.55 or14411.43 ignore14411.67 the14412.07 pain14412.23 and14412.63 suffering14412.87 that14413.51 individuals14414.31 and14414.79 patients14415.03 experiencing14415.67 terminal14416.15 illnesses14416.63 and14417.27 their14417.43 families14417.59 have14418.07 faced.14418.23 Anyone14419.8 facing14420.2 a14420.44 terminal14420.68 diagnosis14421.16 deserves14421.88 to14422.2 be14422.36 treated14422.52 with14422.84 kindness,14423.16 compassion,14424.12 and14424.76 hope.14425 I14426.52 will14426.68 note14426.92 I14427.24 have14427.32 read14427.56 the14427.8 bills14427.88 and14428.44 I14428.68 do14428.92 recognize14429.16 the14429.72 additional14429.88 safeguards14430.36 that14430.92 Massachusetts14431.32 has14432.2 incorporated,14432.44 especially14433.32 as14433.83 compared14433.99 to14434.23 other14434.47 states,14434.79 possible14435.91 or14436.47 enacted14436.71 legislation.14437.11 But14439.35 we14439.59 do14439.67 also14439.91 reiterate14440.15 the14440.79 concerns14440.87 of14441.43 those14441.59 in14441.83 the14441.99 disability14442.23 community14442.87 about14443.59 bias14444.07 among14444.55 the14444.79 medical14444.95 profession14445.43 and14446.31 insurance14446.79 companies14447.35 disproportionately14448.73 offering14449.29 medical14449.77 aid14450.25 in14450.49 dying14450.65 to14451.53 individuals14451.85 with14452.33 disabilities14452.57 and14453.45 chronic14453.69 illnesses14454.17 instead14454.89 of14455.29 prioritizing14455.53 life14456.49 sustaining,14456.81 life14457.69 prolonging,14458.01 and14458.73 pain14459.05 management14459.29 treatment14459.85 options.14460.25 We14462.52 are14462.68 also14462.84 concerned14463.16 about14463.56 the14463.8 preemptive14463.96 deaths14464.52 of14464.76 vulnerable14465 patients14465.48 who14466.12 may14466.28 be14466.44 suffering14466.6 from14467.08 depression14467.32 that14467.88 is14468.12 commonly14468.28 associated14468.84 with14469.4 terminal14469.64 illnesses,14470.04 as14470.92 well14471.08 as14471.32 individuals14471.56 who14472.2 might14472.28 be14472.52 being14472.68 coerced14473 or14473.88 who14474.2 fear14474.36 being14474.6 a14475.35 burden14475.67 to14476.15 their14476.31 families14476.47 if14477.35 they14477.59 want14477.67 to14477.83 pursue14477.91 expensive14478.39 treatment.14478.71 It14480.95 is14481.19 a14481.35 valid14481.51 concern14481.83 that14482.15 insurance14482.39 companies14482.87 may14483.43 deny14483.59 coverage14484.07 for14484.47 life14484.71 saving14484.95 treatments14485.35 in14485.83 lieu14486.07 of14486.31 medical14486.47 aid14486.87 in14487.11 dying.14487.27 As14488.47 discussed14488.79 and14489.19 cited14489.35 in14489.67 my14489.91 written14490.07 testimony,14490.39 114491.27 doctor14491.51 reported14491.83 in14492.31 202014492.55 that14493.51 he14493.67 referred14493.83 214494.23 of14494.47 his14494.55 patients,14494.71 who14495.51 would14495.75 be14495.91 terminal14496.15 without14496.63 treatment,14497.03 to14497.83 life14498.07 prolonging14498.39 treatment.14498.95 Both14500.23 patients'14500.47 insurance14501.13 companies14501.53 denied14502.17 coverage14502.65 for14503.21 these14503.53 treatment14503.69 options14504.17 and14504.73 instead14505.05 offered14505.61 medical14505.93 aid14506.25 in14506.49 dying.14506.73 Next,14508.73 although14509.53 the14510.01 physician14510.17 under14510.65 this14510.89 bill14511.13 is14511.53 required14511.85 to14512.49 refer14512.73 a14513.22 patient14513.38 to14513.5 a14513.62 mental14513.7 health14514.1 professional,14514.34 the14515.38 patient14515.62 is14516.02 only14516.18 required14516.5 to14516.9 meet14517.14 with14517.38 a14517.54 mental14517.7 health14518.1 professional14518.26 114518.9 time14519.14 before14519.78 being14520.5 evaluated.14520.82 Diagnoses14522.9 of14523.54 depression14523.78 are14524.34 highly14524.58 associated14525.4 with14525.56 terminal14525.72 illnesses,14526.28 but14527.4 an14527.72 accurate14527.8 depression14528.28 diagnosis14528.68 can14529.48 take14529.72 time14529.96 and14530.76 be14531.16 significantly14531.48 impacted14532.44 by14532.92 implicit14533.24 biases14533.88 on14534.92 the14535.08 part14535.16 of14535.4 both14535.56 the14535.72 mental14535.88 health14536.2 professional14536.52 and14537.16 the14537.32 patient.14537.48 Depression14539.17 symptoms14539.49 are14539.89 commonly14540.13 masked14540.53 among14540.93 elderly14541.25 patients14541.81 and14542.29 those14542.53 with14542.77 terminal14543.01 illnesses,14543.41 and14544.21 these14545.09 symptoms14545.41 can14545.81 be14545.97 affected14546.21 by14546.61 the14546.77 grieving14546.93 process14547.41 that14547.89 is14548.05 also14548.21 associated14548.61 with14549.17 end14549.33 of14549.57 life14549.65 illnesses.14550.05 In14551.93 114552.17 study,14552.33 only14552.89 614553.21 percent14553.45 of14553.77 psychiatrists14554.09 reported14555.13 that14555.61 they14555.77 were14555.85 confident14556.09 that14556.65 they14556.81 could14556.97 confident14557.21 that14557.69 they14557.85 could14557.93 assess14558.17 a14558.57 patient's14558.65 mental14559.05 state14559.45 in14559.93 a14560.09 single14560.25 session.14560.57 These14561.93 challenges14562.25 with14562.81 diagnosing14563.13 and14563.85 treating14564.01 depression14564.33 in14564.73 terminally14564.81 ill14565.29 patients14565.53 may14566.1 result14566.26 in14566.74 some14566.98 individuals14567.3 being14567.94 deemed14568.26 capable14568.58 even14569.46 though14569.62 they14569.86 should14570.02 not14570.26 have14570.34 been14570.58 after14570.9 a14571.3 more,14571.46 thorough14573.38 evaluation14574.02 process.14574.58 Thank14575.06 you14575.3 for14575.46 your14575.62 time.14575.78
14576.26 SPEAKER214576.26 -14576.26 Thank14576.26 you.14576.42 And,14576.66 Katie,14576.82 I14577.14 believe14577.22 you14577.54 are14577.7 from14577.94 Connecticut?14578.42
14579.67 SPEAKER114579.67 -14579.67 Our14579.67 office14579.91 is14580.23 based14580.39 in14580.63 Washington,14580.79 DC.14581.19
14581.91 SPEAKER214581.91 -14581.91 Okay.14581.91 Mhmm.14582.39 I14582.87 had14583.03 you14583.19 signed14583.43 up14583.67 saying14583.75 you're14584.07 from14584.23 Connecticut.14584.47
14585.11 SPEAKER114585.11 -14585.11 Oh,14585.11 I'm14585.43 not14585.67 sure.14585.83 Oh,14586.15 you14586.39 know14586.47 what?14586.63 Our14586.95 Washington,14587.19 DC14587.67 office14587.99 is14588.23 on14588.39 Connecticut14588.55 Avenue.14588.95
14589.27 SPEAKER214589.27 -14589.27 Are14589.27 you14589.43 based14589.59 here14589.75 in14589.91 Massachusetts14590.07 yourself?14590.63
14591.19 SPEAKER114591.19 -14591.19 No.14591.19 I14591.43 am14591.59 a14591.75 remote14591.91 attorney14592.31 for14592.79 Americans14593.03 United14593.43 for14593.75 Life.14593.89 So14594.13 I14594.29 actually14594.37 live14594.85 in14595.01 Georgia.14595.17
14595.97 SPEAKER214595.97 -14595.97 But14595.97 we14596.21 So14596.61 I14596.77 just14596.85 wanna14597.01 assure14597.25 you14597.49 that14597.73 nobody14597.89 in14598.13 the14598.29 Massachusetts14598.37 legislature14598.93 who14599.49 sits14599.65 on14599.89 this14599.97 committee14600.13 is14600.53 looking14600.69 at14600.93 this14601.09 as14601.33 a14601.41 trivial14601.49 issue.14601.89 Mhmm.14602.37 So14602.61 happy14602.93 to14603.25 have14603.33 you14603.49 here14603.65 in14603.81 Massachusetts.14603.97 And14604.53 regardless14604.77 of14605.25 where14605.41 any14605.81 member14605.97 of14606.13 this14606.29 committee14606.45 falls,14606.85 I14607.09 promise14607.17 you14607.49 this14607.73 is14607.89 not14607.97 trivial14608.24 to14608.4 any14608.56 of14608.6 them.14608.64
14608.88 SPEAKER114608.88 -14608.88 Oh,14608.88 I14609.12 can14609.2 tell.14609.36 I14609.68 appreciate14609.84 it.14610.24 Thank14610.48 you.14610.72
14613.36 SPEAKER214613.36 -14613.36 Okay.14613.36 I14614.24 think14614.4 114614.72 more14614.96 before14615.2 114615.68 more14615.84 person14616 who,14616.4 I14617.6 think14617.68 was14618 from14618.16 out14618.4 of14618.56 state14618.64 was14618.88 Isabella14619.2 Peters,14619.76 who14620.4 had14620.56 already14620.72 signed14621.04 up14621.28 prior14622.22 to14622.46
14636.54 today.14636.54
14639.24 SPEAKER314639.24 -14639.24 Welcome.14639.24 Thank14640.04 you.14640.28 You14641.64 have14641.88 the14642.12 right14642.28 to14642.84 options.14643.16 This14644.36 choice14644.6 is14644.92 a14645.16 personal14645.24 decision.14645.72 Don't14646.6 worry14646.92 about14647.16 what14647.4 family14647.72 or14648.04 friends14648.28 might14648.68 think.14648.92 You14649.8 deserve14650.04 to14650.52 end14650.68 your14650.92 pain.14651.16 We14652.12 will14652.2 make14652.36 this14652.6 as14652.84 peaceful14653.08 as14653.64 possible.14653.96 These14655.72 are14655.96 the14656.12 phrases14656.28 spoken14656.92 to14657.32 the14657.48 terminally14657.64 ill,14658.2 disabled,14658.68 and14659.32 elderly14659.56 citizens14660.2 of14660.6 our14660.76 communities14660.92 every14661.48 day.14661.8 And14662.68 the14662.92 next14663.08 day,14663.32 they14663.96 don't14664.12 wake14664.36 up.14664.6 I14665.91 was14666.07 just14666.31 under14666.39 214666.71 years14666.87 old14667.11 when14667.27 these14667.51 phrases14667.75 were14668.07 used14668.23 in14668.47 an14668.63 attempt14668.87 to14669.19 help14669.27 my14669.43 grandfather14669.67 end14670.23 his14670.39 life.14670.55 He14671.35 had14671.51 suffered14671.67 from14671.99 Parkinson's14672.31 disease,14672.87 heart14673.35 failure,14673.59 kidney14674.15 failure14674.47 and14674.87 various14675.19 other14675.59 health14675.83 issues.14676.15 My14677.51 grandmother14677.75 was14678.15 a14678.31 state14678.47 representative14678.71 at14679.27 the14679.65 time14679.81 who14679.97 happened14680.05 to14680.37 be14680.53 fighting14680.61 a14680.93 bill14681.09 that14681.49 listed14681.73 those14682.21 very14682.53 illnesses14682.77 as14683.49 reasons14684.37 to14684.93 die.14685.09 Both14686.13 my14686.45 grandparents14686.61 were14687.09 appalled14687.25 at14687.57 this14687.73 piece14687.89 of14688.05 legislation14688.29 which14689.17 would14689.33 allow14689.49 a14689.89 physician14689.97 to14690.37 end14690.45 the14690.69 life14690.85 of14691.01 their14691.17 patient.14691.41 For14692.61 414692.93 years,14693.25 the14693.57 doctors14693.73 persisted,14694.05 telling14694.53 my14695.49 grandpa14696.37 that14696.69 he14696.77 didn't14696.99 have14697.22 much14697.45 time14697.67 left14697.9 and14698.13 that14698.21 they14698.69 could14698.77 help14699.09 him14699.25 die14699.29 with14699.33 dignity,14699.97 but14700.85 he14701.33 didn't14701.41 listen.14701.73 Instead,14702.69 he14703.25 would14703.33 give14703.65 me14703.73 rides14703.89 down14704.21 the14704.29 driveway14704.37 in14705.01 his14705.09 motor14705.25 chair14705.49 until14705.73 my14706.05 grandma14706.21 would14706.53 come14706.69 running14706.93 out14707.25 of14707.41 the14707.49 garage14707.65 to14707.97 scold14708.13 him14708.21 scold14708.93 him.14709.17 He14709.33 would14709.49 teach14709.65 me14709.97 and14710.13 my14710.29 cousins14710.37 how14710.77 to14710.93 play14711.01 Clue14711.33 and14711.57 rummy14711.81 while14712.37 feeding14712.61 us14712.85 peppermint14713.09 bark14713.49 for14713.73 me,14713.89 seemingly14714.53 never14715.01 ending14715.33 stash.14715.81 On14717.41 my14717.65 sixth14717.89 birthday,14718.21 grandpa14718.77 passed14719.25 away.14719.49 If14720.45 he14720.69 had14720.77 given14720.93 into14721.17 the14721.49 pressure14721.57 of14721.89 the14722.05 palliative14722.21 care14722.77 system,14723.01 I14723.41 would14723.57 have14723.65 never14723.89 gotten14724.13 to14724.43 know14724.59 him.14724.75 Those14725.71 few14726.03 golden14726.35 memories14726.75 of14727.07 my14727.15 childhood14727.39 simply14727.95 wouldn't14728.19 have14728.51 existed.14728.67 My14730.11 grandmother14730.35 continued14730.83 to14731.39 be14731.55 a14731.71 big14732.51 advocate14732.83 for14733.31 life,14733.47 talking14734.11 about14734.43 this14734.67 issue14734.83 across14735.15 the14735.55 country.14735.63 In14736.67 the14736.83 book14736.99 Personhood,14737.23 Tree14737.95 of14738.27 Life,14738.35 my14738.92 grandmother14739.16 Nancy14739.64 Elliot14739.96 wrote14740.28 these14740.52 words,14740.68 quote,14741.32 euthanasia14742.04 and14742.68 assisted14742.92 suicide14743.4 deny14744.36 the14744.68 personhood14744.84 of14745.32 an14745.56 individual14745.8 in14746.28 the14746.44 most14746.6 permanent14746.84 way.14747.4 These14748.2 practices14748.44 imply14749.16 that14749.96 people14750.28 are14750.68 disposable,14750.92 that14751.8 as14752.04 soon14752.2 as14752.44 a14752.52 person14752.68 is14753 no14753.16 longer14753.32 productive14753.88 to14754.2 society,14754.52 they14755.32 ought14755.56 to14755.72 be14755.8 removed.14756.04 End14756.76 quote.14757 In14758.04 the14758.2 Washington14758.36 versus14758.84 Glucksburg14759.24 Supreme14759.88 Court14760.2 case,14760.44 the14760.84 Supreme14761.08 Court14761.4 unanimously14761.64 found14762.36 that14762.68 assisted14762.84 suicide14763.24 is14763.72 unconstitutional.14763.96 And14765.16 they14765.32 voted14765.56 this14765.88 way14766.04 because14766.28 they14766.52 wanted14766.68 to14767 protect,14767.16 quote,14768.2 they14768.92 valued,14769.24 protecting14770.28 vulnerable14771 groups14772.28 from14772.68 psychological14773 and14773.64 financial14773.8 pressure14774.28 to14774.84 end14774.92 their14775.08 lives,14775.32 end14775.64 quote.14775.88 There's14776.84 the14777.16 thickest14777.24 deception14777.64 in14778.04 society14778.2 wrapped14778.68 in14778.92 the14779.08 message14779.16 that14779.56 assisted14779.8 suicide14780.2 is14780.76 not14780.92 murder,14781.16 but14781.56 rather14781.72 dying14782.36 with14782.68 dignity14782.84 and14783.32 that14783.56 the14783.88 physicians14784.86 helping14785.42 patients14786.54 relieve14786.94 their14787.26 pain14787.42 should14787.66 therefore14787.82 be14788.22 honored.14788.38 There14789.26 is14789.5 no14789.66 honor14789.98 in14790.54 taking14790.7 a14791.1 life.14791.26 Is14792.22 it14792.38 really14792.54 admirable14792.86 for14793.42 a14793.66 physician14793.74 to14794.22 be14794.38 able14794.54 to14795.02 prescribe14795.18 death14795.74 to14796.14 their14796.3 patient?14796.46 I'm14797.59 here14797.83 in14797.99 opposition14798.23 of14798.63 these14798.79 bills14799.11 because14799.59 I14799.83 think14799.99 that14800.23 assisted14800.47 suicide14800.79 is14801.27 a14801.43 slippery14801.59 slope14801.99 to14802.39 a14802.63 slippery14802.87 slope14803.35 to14803.75 vulnerable14803.99 populations14804.55 because14805.43 denying14805.75 the14806.15 personhood14806.31 of14806.87 an14807.03 individual14807.27 is14807.91 immoral14808.15 and14808.87 because14809.03 the14809.35 healers14809.51 of14809.96 society14810.12 should14810.6 not14810.76 be14810.84 helping14811.08 end14811.4 lives.14811.64 Thank14812.2 you.14812.44
14813.72 SPEAKER214813.72 -14813.72 Thank14813.72 you.14813.96 This14815.08 time14815.32 I'm14815.56 gonna14815.64 call14815.88 on14816.04 Joanne14816.36 Vizzilio.14816.84 Joanne,14817.88 I14818.16 think14818.44 you14818.68 are14818.84 with14819 us14819.16 by14819.4 phone.14819.64 Vizzielio.14820.84 Vizzielio.14821.09
14830.2 SPEAKER414830.2 -14830.2 I14830.2 can14830.44
14833.16 SPEAKER214833.16 -14833.16 Welcome,14833.16 Joanne.14833.72 Your14834.2 your14834.44 state14834.6 rep,14834.84 the14835.16 vice14835.32 chair,14835.56 Sally14835.88 Cairns,14836.28 is14836.76 taking14837.59 good14837.91 care14837.99 of14838.23 you14838.39 here.14838.55
14840.15 SPEAKER414840.15 -14840.15 Yes.14840.15 Thank14840.63 you14840.87 so14841.11 much.14841.35 Thank14841.67 you14841.83 so14841.99 much.14842.07 I'm14842.31 so14842.47 sorry.14842.63 I14842.95 had14843.11 technical14843.27 problems14843.75 logging14844.23 back14844.71 in,14844.95 on14845.99 on14846.15 the14846.31 link14846.47 on14846.79 the14846.87 team.14847.03 So14847.91 thank14848.15 you14848.31 for14848.55 hearing14848.71 me.14849.03 I14849.51 am14849.67 very14849.91 much14850.15 in14850.47 support14850.63 of14851.03 of14851.27 medical14851.59 aid14851.99 in14852.23 dying14852.39 and14852.81 end14852.89 of14852.97 life14853.21 options.14853.45 I14854.33 first14854.57 became14854.81 a14855.21 supporter14855.37 of14856.25 this14856.49 initiative14856.73 years14857.45 ago14857.69 after14858.57 watching14859.53 a14859.93 very14860.09 close14860.41 friend14860.73 of14860.97 mine.14861.13 She14861.77 had14862.01 suffered14862.17 for14862.65 years14862.89 from14863.29 a14863.53 debilitating14863.61 illness14864.33 and14864.73 then14864.89 finally14865.13 she14865.61 was14865.85 on14866.01 her14866.25 final14866.49 deathbed.14866.89 She14867.81 was14867.97 on14868.13 her14868.29 deathbed14868.45 and14869.01 she14869.33 was14869.57 in14869.73 excruciating14870.05 pain14871.01 and14871.33 she14871.57 begged14871.89 me14872.29 to14872.53 help14872.69 her14872.93 end14873.17 her14873.33 life.14873.57 I14874.29 didn't14874.53 do14874.85 that.14875.09 That14875.41 was14875.65 3014876.29 years14876.61 3014877.01 plus14877.41 years14877.65 ago14877.89 and14878.21 I'm14878.45 still14878.69 haunted14879.01 by14879.49 guilt.14879.73 And14880.37 the14880.61 guilt14880.77 is14881.09 there14881.25 because14881.57 I14881.97 knew14882.13 she14883.02 was14883.26 suffering14883.42 and14884.06 she14884.3 was14884.46 in14884.78 pain14884.94 and14885.26 she14885.5 needed14885.66 help14885.98 and14886.3 nothing14886.62 was14887.34 going14887.5 to14887.82 alleviate14887.98 that14888.7 suffering.14889.02 Fast14890.06 forward14890.46 many,14890.94 many14891.34 years14891.58 in14891.98 here14892.14 in14892.38 2017,14892.62 I14893.66 was14893.82 diagnosed14894.14 with14894.62 an14894.86 incurable14894.94 blood14895.58 cancer.14895.9 Ever14896.92 since14897.16 then,14897.48 I've14897.64 been14897.88 on14898.04 chemotherapy.14898.28 In14899.64 addition14899.88 to14900.2 chemo14900.52 and14900.92 stem14901.16 cell14901.48 transplants14901.8 and14902.28 other14902.44 Western14902.76 medicine,14903.16 I've14903.96 given14904.2 up14904.52 flour,14904.84 sugar14905.4 and14905.8 alcohol.14906.04 I14907.08 share14907.32 that14907.64 to14907.96 make14908.12 very14908.44 clear14908.68 to14909 you14909.16 that14909.32 I14909.64 am14909.72 doing14909.96 everything14910.36 I14910.92 possibly14911.08 can14911.72 to14911.96 stay14912.33 alive.14912.73 I14913.61 want14913.93 to14914.17 live,14914.41 and14915.05 it14915.29 makes14915.53 me14915.85 so14916.49 very14916.89 angry14917.29 when14917.85 I14918.09 hear14918.33 others14918.65 speak14919.05 about14919.37 suicide14919.85 as14920.89 if14921.13 this14921.37 is14921.61 our14921.93 choice.14922.33 I14923.13 am14923.37 not14923.61 making14923.93 a14924.25 choice14924.41 to14924.81 die.14925.05 The14925.53 cancer14925.77 is14926.25 making14926.49 that14926.81 choice14927.05 for14927.53 me.14927.77 So14928.44 when14928.6 you14928.84 hear14928.92 suicide,14929.4 it's14930.44 it's14930.76 a14931 fallacy.14931.24 We14931.96 want14932.2 to14932.52 stay14932.92 alive.14933.32 What14934.04 we14934.28 don't14934.52 want14934.84 is14935.16 to14935.4 be14935.56 in14935.8 pain.14935.96 When14936.92 you're14937.16 told14937.4 you14937.72 have14937.88 incurable14938.12 cancer,14938.6 the14939.08 114939.24 thing14939.48 you14939.64 do14939.8 is14940.04 you14940.2 do14940.36 everything14940.52 you14940.92 can14941.08 to14941.4 stay14941.56 alive.14941.8 The14942.51 second14942.83 thing14943.07 you14943.31 do14943.47 is14943.63 you14943.87 think14944.03 a14944.27 lot14944.35 about14944.59 death.14944.91 And14945.95 thinking14946.19 about14946.59 death,14946.91 I14947.31 did14947.47 my14947.63 homework.14947.87 I14948.51 prepared.14948.75 I14949.79 am14949.95 okay14950.19 with14950.75 going14950.99 to14951.31 a14952.19 a14952.35 spiritual14952.43 life14953.07 form14953.31 at14953.71 another14953.87 time.14954.27 Not14954.59 now,14954.83 but14955.39 when14955.63 it14955.79 happens,14955.95 I14956.43 will14956.59 be14956.75 okay14956.99 with14957.31 it.14957.47 What14957.99 I'm14958.23 not14958.47 okay14958.71 with14959.03 is14959.35 the14959.59 dying14959.91 process.14960.31 I14961.03 do14961.19 not14961.43 want14961.75 to14961.99 be14962.07 suffering14962.39 and14962.95 in14963.27 pain.14963.51 And14964.15 I've14964.39 seen14964.79 that14965.19 even14965.59 with14965.83 the14966.15 best14966.23 hospice14966.71 care,14967.27 you14967.99 are14968.23 not14968.47 necessarily14968.79 relieved14969.67 of14970.31 pain.14970.47 Many14971.27 doctors14971.59 have14972.07 testified14972.23 to14972.95 that.14973.03 I14973.59 do14973.8 not14973.96 wanna14974.2 be14974.44 in14974.68 pain14974.92 nor14975.64 do14975.96 I14976.2 wanna14976.28 be14976.76 so14976.92 doped14977.24 up14977.56 on14977.72 morphine14977.96 like14978.52 many14978.84 people14979.08 are14979.48 that14980.12 they're14980.36 basically14980.76 rendered14981.32 unconscious14981.88 and14983 live14983.16 that14983.48 way14983.72 for14983.96 days14984.36 and14984.76 many14985 times14985.24 weeks,14985.8 many14986.2 weeks,14986.52 basically14986.92 unconscious14987.4 on14988.52 morphine14988.68 just14989.64 so14989.88 that14990.12 there's14990.36 no14990.76 pain14991.08 at14992.12 all14992.36 being14992.68 felt.14993.16 And14993.56 that14993.8 that14994.12 then14994.52 that14994.68 doesn't14994.92 even14995.32 happen.14995.56 There's14995.88 breakthrough14996.2 pain14996.76 even14997.08 with14997.4 that.14997.56 So14998.36 I'm14998.6 here14998.84 asking14999.4 with14999.8 you.14999.96 I'm15000.2 here15000.44 pleading15000.68 with15001.16 you,15001.32 please.15001.64 The15002.32 choice15002.56 should15002.88 be15003.2 mine15003.36 and15003.84 mine15004 alone.15004.32 Nobody15004.8 else15005.28 needs15005.84 to15006.16 do15006.24 this.15006.4 No15007.04 doctor15007.36 needs15007.76 to15008.16 do15008.24 this.15008.4 No15008.72 patient15009.04 needs15009.6 to15009.84 do15009.92 this.15010.08 It15010.64 is15010.88 my15011.36 choice15011.6 and15013.04 and15013.44 every15013.68 patient's15014 choice15014.56 alone.15014.88 It15015.28 affects15015.52 nobody15016 else15016.4 but15016.76 the15017 individual.15017.24 So15018.36 I15018.6 thank15018.68 you15018.92 for15019.08 your15019.32 time,15019.56 and15019.88 I15020.12 thank15020.28 you15020.52 for15020.76 moving15021.08 this15021.48 bill15021.72 forward.15021.96
15023.72 SPEAKER215023.72 -15023.72 Thank15023.72 you.15023.96 At15025.56 this15025.8 time,15026.04 I'm15026.28 going15026.44 to15026.76 welcome15027 in15027.4 person15027.56 Becky15027.96 Gladstone.15028.44
15046.07 SPEAKER515046.07 -15046.07 Feel15046.07 like15046.23 I'm15046.39 the15046.63 last15046.71 115046.95 standing15047.19 almost,15047.59 but,15047.99 thank15048.63 you15048.87 for15049.03 your15049.27 time,15049.43 the15049.67 joint15049.83 committee,15050.07 and15050.55 the15050.63 chairs.15050.79 My15052.07 name15052.15 is15052.31 Becky15052.47 Gladstone.15052.87 I15053.75 live15053.91 in15054.15 Beacon15054.39 Hill.15054.79 And15055.43 prior15055.75 to15055.99 that,15056.15 I15056.31 was15056.39 a15056.55 Dover15056.63 resident15056.95 for15057.35 about15057.51 3115057.75 years.15059.11 On15059.59 04/12/2024,15059.91 almost15062.15 115062.55 year15062.71 ago15062.95 today,15063.19 my15063.99 husband15064.15 Doug15064.55 experienced15064.87 a15065.43 grand15065.59 mal15065.91 seizure15066.15 in15066.63 my15066.87 arms.15067.03 He15067.83 had15067.99 had15068.15 a15068.39 car15068.47 accident15068.71 on15069.19 the15069.35 Leverett15069.51 Circle.15069.91 He15071.21 spent15071.45 the15071.57 next15071.69 1215072.09 days15072.41 at15072.73 Boston15072.89 Medical15073.29 while15074.25 doctors15074.57 conducted15075.05 a15075.53 myriad15075.61 of15076.01 tests15076.17 and15076.89 prescribed15077.13 medications15077.69 to15078.41 eliminate15078.57 the15079.61 constant15079.85 seizure15080.41 activity15080.81 he15081.45 was15081.61 experiencing.15081.85 MGH15083.83 neurologist15084.39 evaluated15085.11 Doug15085.67 in15085.91 May,15086.07 but15087.03 we15087.27 opted15087.43 to15087.67 wait15087.83 until15088.07 after15088.31 our15088.63 eldest15088.87 daughter's15089.27 June15089.75 wedding15090.15 to15090.55 have15090.71 a15090.87 neurosurgeon15091.03 conduct15091.91 his15092.39 brain15092.63 biopsy.15093.03 And15094.39 on15094.63 January15094.87 17,15095.4 National15096.23 Glioblastoma15096.79 Awareness15097.75 Day,15098.31 Doug15099.11 was15099.35 diagnosed15099.59 with15100.23 glioblastoma,15100.47 the15101.91 most15102.07 common,15102.39 the15103.27 most15103.43 aggressive,15103.67 and15104.87 a15105.11 terminal15105.35 brain15106.15 cancer.15106.47
15109.75 Surgery15109.75 to15110.15 remove15110.31 the15110.71 tumors15110.87 was15111.27 not15111.43 an15111.67 option15111.83 since15112.31 they15112.63 are15112.79 in15112.95 415113.11 areas15113.35 of15113.75 his15113.91 brain,15114.87 multifocal15115.27 and15115.91 expansile.15116.23 He15117.67 had15117.83 615117.99 weeks15118.23 of15118.47 radiation15118.71 on15119.27 his15119.51 right15119.75 temporal,15120.07 valmus,15120.79 and15121.35 occipital15121.59 lobes15122.23 as15122.95 well15123.19 as15123.43 daily15123.59 chemotherapy.15123.91 And15125.19 he15125.35 has15125.51 been15125.67 on15125.83 the15125.99 same15126.15 chemo15126.39 drug15126.79 drug15127.06 for15127.22 515127.46 days15127.7 each15128.1 month15128.34 since15128.9 November.15129.3 He15131.14 weighs15131.38 15515131.7 pounds,15133.06 but15134.66 he15134.82 is15134.98 still15135.14 able15135.38 to15135.62 walk15135.86 almost15136.98 okay15137.54 and15138.34 talk15138.66 and15139.31 function15139.47 somewhat15140.11 normally.15140.51 But15141.95 in15142.27 his15142.43 head15142.67 is15142.99 the15143.15 constant15143.39 reminder15143.87 that15144.51 he15144.67 is15144.83 going15144.99 to15145.15 die15145.31 much15145.87 sooner15146.11 than15146.91 he15147.15 ever15147.39 expected.15147.79 Glioblastoma15149.71 or15151.15 GBM15151.39 is15152.19 a15152.43 monster15152.59 of15153.74 a15153.98 cancer.15154.14 There15155.58 is15155.82 no15155.98 other15156.14 way15156.38 to15156.62 describe15156.78 it.15157.18 Individuals15158.3 like15159.34 Doug15159.66 have15160.06 a15160.62 poor15160.7 prognosis15161.02 and15161.82 a15162.06 poor15162.14 quality15162.46 of15162.86 life15163.02 as15163.82 the15163.98 disease15164.14 progresses.15164.62 It15165.9 can15166.14 cause15166.3 a15166.54 variety15166.62 of15167.02 neurological,15167.34 psychological,15168.38 and15169.26 cognitive15169.58 disabilities.15170.3 Doug15171.98 is15172.22 a15172.38 bright,15172.54 independent,15173.26 funny,15174.46 and15175.34 headstrong15175.58 6415176.3 year15176.86 old15177.1 who15177.74 recently15177.98 had15178.46 to15178.62 retire15178.78 from15179.26 the15179.42 company15179.58 he15180.06 founded15180.3 in15181.27 02/200115181.43 because15182.55 he15182.87 struggles15183.11 with15183.59 basic15183.83 executive15184.63 functioning.15185.11 He15186.71 is15186.95 getting15187.11 treated15187.35 by15187.75 a15188.07 top15188.23 Mass15188.87 General15189.19 Hospital15189.51 neuro15190.07 oncologist15190.31 and15191.51 he15191.67 is15191.83 working15192.07 extremely15192.63 hard15193.27 to15193.51 improve15193.67 himself15194.07 both15194.63 mentally15194.87 and15195.68 physically15195.84 with15196.8 the15197.04 help15197.12 from15197.44 his15197.6 palliative15197.84 care15198.48 team.15198.72 He15199.68 signed15199.92 on15200.16 to15200.32 palliative15200.48 care15201.12 months15201.76 and15202.08 months15202.24 ago.15202.48 You15203.28 can15203.36 do15203.6 that15203.76 right15204.08 as15204.96 you15205.12 get15205.36 diagnosed15205.6 with15206.16 a15206.4 terminal15206.56 disease.15207.04 It15207.76 is15207.92 extremely15208.16 helpful15208.19 in15208.21 this15208.23 process.15208.26 It15208.28 is15208.31 not15208.33 hospice15208.36 care.15208.38 You15208.41 can15208.43 do15208.46 palliative15208.48 care.15208.73 Helpful15210.23 in15210.55 this15210.87 process.15211.39 It15211.91 is15211.96 not15212.01 hospice15212.06 care.15212.1 You15212.14 can15212.18 do15212.23 palliative15212.39 care15213.11 as15213.19 you15213.27 have15213.99 treatment.15214.15 I15214.55 just15214.63 want15214.79 to15214.87 make15215.11 sure15215.35 that's15215.51 a15215.83 point15215.91 because15216.07 I've15216.31 listened15216.47 to15216.79 people15216.95 mention15217.67 doctors15218.07 mention15218.55 palliative15218.95 care15219.43 as15220.15 like15220.31 that's15220.55 the15221.35 end.15221.51
15224.71 Anyway,15224.71 he15225.03 is15225.23 constantly15225.43 exhausted15225.99 and15226.63 often15226.87 depressed.15227.19 We15228.23 don't15228.39 know15228.55 what15228.71 the15228.87 plan15229.03 is15229.27 once15229.43 he15229.67 completes15229.83 his15230.15 615230.31 round15230.55 of15230.79 515230.95 2315231.11 chemo15231.75 this15232.07 month,15232.31 but15232.71 he15232.95 knows15233.03 he15233.35 does15233.51 not15233.75 have15233.91 much15234.07 time.15234.39 He15235.11 also15235.27 know15235.59 he's15235.75 wants15236.07 to15236.39 live.15236.55 He15236.95 wants15237.11 to15237.43 see15237.59 his15237.75 grandchildren,15238.02 but15238.98 he15239.22 knows15239.3 he15239.62 wants15239.7 to15239.94 die15240.02 with15240.18 dignity.15240.42 We15241.86 have15242.02 315242.18 daughters,15242.5 and15243.46 they15243.7 are15243.86 all15244.02 on15244.34 board15244.5 with15244.74 this.15244.9 He's15245.22 talking15245.46 about15245.78 going15246.02 to15246.26 Vermont,15246.42 but15247.54 to15247.86 me,15248.02 that15248.42 that's15248.82 that's15249.14 hardly15249.46 even15249.87 possible15250.19 right15250.83 now.15251.07 He15251.71 wants15251.87 to15252.11 do15252.27 this15252.35 in15252.51 the15252.67 comfort15252.83 of15253.15 his15253.31 own15253.47 home.15253.71
15258.43 Anyway,15258.43 anyone15259.95 who15260.35 is15260.51 faced15260.67 with15260.91 a15261.07 similar15261.23 diagnosis,15261.71 similar15262.51 terminal15262.91 diagnosis,15263.47 We15264.83 just15264.99 we15265.39 want15265.63 this15265.87 choice.15266.11 As15266.59 Rabbi15266.83 Lieberman15267.23 said,15267.95 there's15268.91 a15269.23 time15269.39 to15269.55 be15269.71 born,15269.87 a15270.19 time15270.35 to15270.59 die.15270.75 As15271.07 Barbara15271.39 Witherstone15271.79 just15272.35 said,15272.59 don't15273.23 we15273.47 all15273.71 want15273.95 that15274.27 gift?15274.51 There's15275.31 dinosaur's15275.71 metaphor15276.43 that15277.15 he15277.31 mentioned15277.47 of15277.79 time.15278.03 This15278.67 is15278.91 not15279.07 suicide.15279.31 This15280.07 is15280.31 not15280.47 cruel.15280.71 This15281.11 is15281.27 not15281.43 inhumane.15281.75 This15282.79 is15282.95 our15283.19 rightful15283.59 option.15284.31 Thank15284.95 you15285.19 very15285.43 much15285.67 for15285.83 your15285.99 time.15286.15
15287.19 SPEAKER215287.19 -15287.19 Thank15287.19 you15287.43 for15287.67 your15287.91 time.15288.07 At15289.83 this15290.07 time,15290.31 I15290.71 welcome15291.03 John15291.67 Robinson.15291.91
15339.26 SPEAKER615339.26 -15339.26 Thank15339.26 you15339.5 very15339.74 much15339.98 for,15340.3 letting15340.78 me15341.02 speak.15341.26 My15342.62 name15342.78 is15343.02 John15343.26 Robinson.15343.58 I'm15344.14 7615344.38 years15345.1 old.15345.42 I15346.64 live15346.8 in15346.88 Somerville,15347.2 Massachusetts.15347.76 Due15349.84 to15350.08 a15350.32 premature15350.4 birth,15351.12 I'm15352.72 legally15353.04 blind15353.52 in15353.84 115354 eye,15354.32 visually15354.64 impaired15355.28 in15355.68 the15355.76 other15355.92 eye,15356.32 so15357.12 I've15357.36 been15357.6 disabled15357.84 all15358.4 my15358.64 life.15358.8 I15360.33 was15360.49 segregated15360.81 in15361.53 schools15361.77 when15362.89 I15363.13 was15363.21 coming15363.45 up,15363.77 so15365.61 I15366.17 always15366.41 had15366.65 an15366.89 inferiority15367.13 complex15368.01 about15368.49 being15368.81 disabled.15369.21 I15370.09 always15370.25 thought15370.57 I15370.81 was15370.97 less15371.21 than15371.53 other15371.77 people.15372.01 So15373.66 I've15374.06 always15374.46 had15374.7 to15374.94 struggle15375.1 with15375.42 that15375.66 all15375.9 my15376.06 life.15376.22 And15377.42 I15377.66 want15377.74 you15377.98 to15378.22 understand15378.38 that15379.58 being15380.7 disabled15381.02 is15382.78 a15383.02 is15383.26 a15383.5 fact15383.66 of15383.98 life15384.14 that15384.46 everybody15384.86 is15385.5 gonna15385.66 experience15386.46 in15387.1 their15387.26 life15387.5 once15387.74 they15388.06 get15388.22 older.15388.38 So15389.89 I15390.05 want15390.13 I15390.45 just15390.69 wanna15390.85 say15391.17 I15391.41 oppose15391.65 all15392.13 physician15392.37 assisted15392.93 suicide15393.49 bills.15394.13 Assisted15395.57 suicide15396.05 laws15396.93 are15397.57 not15397.73 rational,15398.29 social,15399.89 real15401.57 life15401.97 responses15402.45 or15403.49 solutions15403.65 to15404.45 ableism,15404.93 depression,15406.13 mental15407.41 illness,15408.13 poverty,15409.09 racism,15410.21 and15411.17 suicide15411.49 contagion.15412.45 And15414.29 I15414.53 wanna15414.69 talk15415.01 about15415.25 my15415.57 mother.15415.81 My15416.85 mother15417.01 has15417.41 severe15417.73 not15419.66 depression,15420.06 but15420.62 Alzheimer's15421.66 and15422.22 dementia.15422.46 But15423.98 she15424.22 knew15424.54 the15424.86 family.15425.02 She15425.9 knew15426.14 my15426.54 father.15426.86 She15427.66 knew15427.98 me.15428.3 And15429.02 when15429.26 we15429.5 would15429.66 go15429.9 to15430.14 visit15430.3 her15430.7 in15430.94 a15431.1 nursing15431.26 home15431.82 where15432.22 they15432.46 stole15432.7 her15433.02 clothes15433.47 and15433.79 treated15434.03 her15434.43 so15434.75 bad,15434.99 she15435.95 always15436.27 would15436.67 cry15436.99 out15437.63 our15438.19 names15438.43 when15439.63 we15439.95 were15440.11 about15440.35 to15440.67 leave15440.83 after15441.23 we15441.63 were15441.79 visiting15442.03 her.15442.51 And15443.39 I15443.63 bring15443.79 up15444.03 my15444.27 mother15444.51 because15444.91 there15445.63 was15445.87 a15446.11 a15446.62 waiting15446.86 list15447.26 for15447.58 home15447.82 care15448.14 in15448.38 Massachusetts,15448.7 and15450.06 this15450.22 should15450.46 not15450.7 be.15450.94 You15451.82 should15452.14 fund15452.46 home15452.94 care15453.26 so15453.58 there15453.9 is15454.22 no15454.46 waiting15454.86 list15455.26 for15455.66 home15455.82 care15456.14 in15456.78 Massachusetts.15457.1 This15458.06 is15458.3 very15458.54 important.15458.94 This15460.14 I15460.6 agree15460.84 with15461.24 the15461.48 speakers15461.72 from15462.76 second15463.4 thoughts.15463.8 I'm15464.36 a15464.6 member15464.68 of15465.08 second15465.16 thoughts.15465.56 Anita15466.52 Cameron,15467.08 my15467.56 sister,15467.8 she15468.28 said15468.52 it15468.84 all.15469 John15469.72 Kelly,15469.96 all15470.44 those15470.68 people15470.92 and15471.16 all15471.4 the15471.56 red15471.8 other15472.2 people15472.44 who15473.08 testified15473.32 with15474.04 disabilities.15474.28 And15475.88 I15476.12 also15476.28 wanna15476.68 bring15477 up15477.24 lastly,15477.64 economics15478.92 are15480.12 in15480.28 the15480.44 background15480.6 of15481.32 the15481.48 right15481.56 to15481.88 die15482.12 movement.15482.52 Money15484.28 is15484.6 being15484.84 valued15485.24 over15485.72 people15486.12 in15486.6 the15486.76 health15487 care15487.32 system.15487.64 Managed15488.84 care15489.4 corporations15490.27 rationing15491.47 health15492.11 care15492.43 costs15492.75 under15493.63 the15494.03 guise15494.19 of15494.67 cost15494.99 containment.15495.55 Don't15497.47 be15497.87 fooled.15498.19 I15500.27 relate15501.39 to15501.96 the15502.08 people15502.2 who15502.44 are15502.68 in15502.92 pain15503.08 because15504.12 I've15504.52 suffered15504.84 pain15505.24 myself.15505.64 Anita15506.68 Sheff15507.16 is15507.48 in15507.72 pain15507.88 all15508.2 her15508.36 life.15508.6 But15509.88 please15510.2 do15511.48 the15511.72 right15511.88 thing.15512.2 Don't15513.64 follow15514.04 Elon15514.91 Musk15515.31 and15515.63 Donald15515.87 Trump.15516.19 Because15516.99 when15517.31 they15517.55 get15517.79 rid15518.03 of15518.35 Social15518.51 Security,15518.99 all15520.83 of15521.07 us15521.23 are15521.47 gonna15521.63 be15521.95 in15522.11 the15522.27 street,15522.43 myself15522.91 included,15523.55 because15524.03 I'm15524.35 on15524.51 Social15524.75 Security.15525.07 Thank15525.63 you15525.87 very15526.03 much.15526.27
15526.67 SPEAKER215526.67 -15526.67 Thank15526.67 you15526.83 for15527.07 your15527.23 time,15527.39 John.15527.71 At15529.38 this15529.54 time,15529.78 I15529.86 welcome15530.42 Grace15530.74 Garcia.15531.14
15537.46 SPEAKER715537.46 -15537.46 Okay.15537.46
15540.82 Welcome.15540.82
15564.92 SPEAKER815564.92 -15564.92 Hi.15564.92 Good15565.08 afternoon.15565.4 The15566.84 League15567.08 of15567.32 United15567.56 Latin15568.6 American15568.92 Citizens,15569.48 LULAC,15570.2 is15570.6 the15570.76 oldest15570.92 Hispanic15571.32 organization15572.42 in15572.98 The15573.14 United15573.3 States15573.54 and15573.86 is15574.02 represented15574.34 by15574.9 200,00015575.06 active15576.58 volunteer15576.98 members.15577.46 LULAC15577.94 has15578.34 been15578.42 in15578.66 Massachusetts15578.9 for15579.54 over15579.86 3515580.1 years,15580.58 and15580.82 I,15581.06 Grace15581.3 Garcia,15581.62 represent15582.42 the15582.98 state15583.14 as15583.38 the15583.7 Massachusetts15583.86 LULAC15584.66 state15585.38 director.15585.93 Massachusetts15586.65 LULAC15587.61 opposes15588.25 House15588.81 Bill15589.13 2515589.69 015590.25 515590.49 and15590.81 Senate15590.97 Bill15591.37 1415592.25 86.15592.81 What15593.29 is15593.53 needed15593.77 is15594.17 quality15594.41 health15594.97 care15595.21 for15595.37 the15595.61 Hispanic15596.01 population15596.57 provided15597.29 with15597.69 dignity15597.93 for15598.49 everyone.15598.65 Many15599.53 Hispanics15599.77 do15600.33 not15600.49 know15600.76 the15600.92 language15601.08 well15601.48 and15601.72 will15601.88 be15602.52 pressured15602.92 into15603.96 assisted15604.28 suicide15604.76 without15605.4 even15605.8 knowing15606.04 what15606.36 they15606.6 are15606.76 agreeing15607.16 to.15607.72 The15608.2 Hispanic15608.44 people15609 need15609.88 chances,15610.2 choices,15610.84 and15611.48 opportunities15612.28 to15613.32 survive15613.72 in15614.28 our15614.52 fast15614.76 improving15615.08 medical15615.64 technology15615.72
15620.8 dangerous15620.8 and15620.96 discriminatory15621.12 to15621.28 the15621.84 Hispanic15622.08 population.15622.4 There15623.44 is15623.68 no15623.84 equity15624.08 in15624.64 medical15624.88 coverage15625.28 of15626.48 black15626.72 and15627.04 Hispanic15627.36 people.15627.84 Equitable15628.48 access15629.12 to15629.6 high15629.76 quality15630 health15630.48 care15630.72 is15631.04 essential15631.2 to15632.87 reduce15633.03 barriers15633.43 and15633.91 promote15634.07 fairness15634.55 to15635.11 health15635.27 care15635.51 services15635.75 and15636.23 to15636.39 overcome15636.71 racial15637.67 bias15638.15 in15638.55 health15638.71 care.15638.95 Assisted15639.91 suicide15640.31 endangers15641.91 disadvantaged15642.63 diverse15643.27 populations,15643.67 often15644.89 overwhelmed15645.21 by15645.69 institutional15646.01 virus15646.81 and15647.37 has15647.61 widespread15648.09 implication15648.65 in15649.61 a15649.77 historically15650.01 racially15650.73 oppressive15651.61 society.15652.09 Inadequate15652.73 health15654.41 care15654.65 is15655.05 experienced15655.29 more15655.77 acutely15656.01 by15656.49 the15656.65 financially15656.81 poor,15657.37 the15657.69 elderly,15657.85 poorly15659.07 educated,15659.55 and15660.03 non15660.19 English15660.43 speakers.15660.75 The15661.87 Hispanic15662.35 community15663.23 includes15663.71 immigrations,15664.27 immigrants15665.47 that15666.11 fall15666.35 into15666.59 these15666.91 categories15667.23 and15667.79 need15667.95 to15668.11 be15668.19 protected.15668.43 How15669.31 can15669.55 a15669.71 doctor15669.87 say15670.35 115670.67 has15670.91 only15671.15 615671.39 months15671.71 to15671.95 live?15672.11 115672.91 it15674.03 could15674.58 be15674.74 true,15674.9 but15675.22 a15675.54 person15675.7 could15676.02 live15676.26 live15676.98 less15677.22 or15677.62 even15677.86 years15678.1 longer.15678.42 Medical15679.38 aid15680.58 in15680.66 Giant15680.82 is15681.46 only15681.7 gonna15681.94 be15682.26 reported15682.42 to15682.9 the15683.06 Massachusetts15683.22 Department15683.94 of15684.34 Public15684.5 Health,15684.82 and15685.7 doctors15685.94 are15686.5 gonna15686.74 be15686.98 required15687.14 to15687.7 to15688.42 put15689.65 write15689.97 down15690.13 the15690.53 online,15690.69 cause15691.73 of15692.13 the15692.21 death.15692.37 Transparency15693.09 is15694.05 needed.15694.21 People15695.01 have15695.41 to15695.57 see15695.81 the15696.13 real15696.29 reason15696.53 they15696.93 die.15697.17 It15697.89 will15698.05 be15698.37 a15698.69 dangerous15698.93 decision15699.57 to15700.05 decriminalize15700.93 physical15701.81 physician15702.61 assisted15703.71 suicide15704.11 or15705.07 medical15705.31 aid15705.71 and15705.95 diary15706.03 as15706.43 it15706.59 will15706.75 show15706.99 that15707.23 Massachusetts15707.55 no15708.35 longer15708.43 has15708.75 interest15709.07 in15709.55 protecting15709.71 and15710.67 preserving15710.91 human15711.47 life.15711.79 Massachusetts15712.43 already15713.63 faces15713.95 a15714.43 problem15714.59 with15714.99 drug15715.81 overdose,15716.13 with15716.77 use15716.93 of15717.17 illegal15717.41 drugs15717.89 without15718.29 a15718.61 new15718.77 law15719.01 providing15719.41 more.15719.97 8,000,00015720.85 is15721.57 being15721.89 budgeted15722.21 in15722.69 Massachusetts15722.93 for15723.57 the15723.81 prevention15723.97 of15724.53 suicide.15724.61 Massachusetts15725.49 is15726.29 working15726.45 to15726.77 educate15726.93 people15727.41 to15728.29 reduce15728.45 the15729.05 access15729.29 of15729.69 lethal15729.93 means15730.41 by15730.73 promoting15730.89 safe15731.37 and15731.69 storage15731.85 and15733.29 education15733.53 on15734.25 safe15734.73 deposit15735.13 of15735.61 over15735.85 the15736.09 counter15736.25 drugs15736.57 and15736.97 unused15737.21 prescriptions.15737.77 Nationally,15738.97 250,000,00015739.61 is15741.61 budgeted15741.85 to15742.73 prevent15742.89 suicide.15743.29 Even15744.06 the15744.3 veterans15744.54 administration15745.02 is15746.22 against,15746.38 assisted15748.14 suicide15748.62 for15749.82 for15750.3 veterans.15750.7 And15752.06 palliative15752.94 care15753.58 needs15753.9 to15754.22 be15754.3 used15754.46 and15754.78
15757.76 just15757.76 we15758.24 do15758.4 oppose15758.72 these15759.28 bills.15759.52 And15760 thank15760.24 you15760.48 very15760.72 much.15760.96 And15761.76 I15761.92 don't15762.08 wanna15762.32 go15762.56 over15762.72 it.15762.96
15763.12 SPEAKER215763.12 -15763.12 That's15763.12 okay.15763.36 Thank15763.6 you.15763.84 And15764 if15764.16 you15764.24 wanna15764.32 submit15764.64 anything15764.96 more15765.28 in15765.52 writing,15765.6 please15766 do.15766.24
15766.88 SPEAKER815766.88 -15766.88 Yes.15766.88 I15767.28 will15767.44 send15767.6 something15767.84 Okay.15768.32 Afterwards.15768.72 Okay.15769.52 Thank15769.84 you.15770 Thank15770.32 you.15770.56
15773 SPEAKER215773 -15773 At15773 this15773.24 time,15773.48 I15773.96 wanna15774.2 welcome15774.44 Elaine15775 Aversa.15775.4
15792.21 SPEAKER715792.21 -15792.21 Thank15792.21 you.15792.61 My15793.73 name15793.97 is15794.13 Elena15794.37 Versa.15794.85 I'm15795.25 a15795.41 retired15795.57 registered15796.37 nurse15796.85 and15797.49
15800.52 wanted15800.52 to15801 just15801.24 speak15801.64 on15801.88 behalf15802.12 of15802.6 my15802.84 elderly15803.64 mother15804.2 who15804.52 was15804.76 her15806.04 life15806.28 was15806.52 cut15806.76 very15807.08 short.15807.4 She15809.08 was15809.24 essentially15809.48 assisted15810.84 into15811.64 her15811.96 death15812.2 by15812.76 assisted15813 suicide15813.56 at15814.12 the15814.28 age15814.44 of15814.67 93.15814.83 My15816.51 mother15816.67 at15816.99 9215817.15 with15818.03 very15819.15 moderate15819.39 dementia15820.67 had15822.03 115822.35 fall15822.59 which15824.27 could15824.51 have15824.75 been15824.83 prevented.15825.07 She15825.95 broke15826.19 115826.51 rib15826.75 and15827.79 the15827.95 emergency15828.19 room15828.75 doctor15828.99 doctor15829.31 basically15829.79 wrote15830.91 her15831.23 life15831.47 away15831.87 that15832.35 night15832.51 and15833.63 said15833.87 that,15834.43 your15836.75 mother15836.99 really15837.39 does15837.71 not15838.03 like15838.27 hospitals.15839.07 I'll15839.63 make15839.87 it15840.03 so15840.27 that15840.43 she15840.67 never15840.91 has15841.15 to15841.39 return15841.55 to15841.95 a15842.11 hospital.15842.27 I15843.68 will15843.92 diagnose15844.72 her.15845.44 I15847.92 will15848.08 she15848.48 only15848.72 excuse15849.12 me.15849.36 She15849.6 only15849.76 has15850 615850.24 months15850.48 to15850.8 live.15850.96 I15851.76 will15851.92 make15852.48 it15852.72 so15852.88 she15853.04 never15853.28 has15853.6 to15853.84 return15854 back15854.4 to15854.64 a15854.8 hospital.15854.96 I15856.31 will15856.47 quote,15856.71 qualify15857.59 your15858.07 mother15858.31 for15858.63 hospice15858.95 care.15859.59 My15860.79 mother15861.03 has15861.43 had15862.47 no15862.79 metastatic15863.03 cancer15864.31 diagnosis15864.87 ever.15865.67 No15866.23 cardiac15866.47 disease.15867.03 She15867.99 had15868.23 no15868.55 cardiopulmonary15869.27 end15870.63 stage15870.79 respiratory15871.95 COPD.15872.67 My15874.35 mother15874.59 then15874.91 was15875.15 signed15875.39 on15875.71 to15875.87 hospice15876.11 without15876.59 my15876.91 other15877.15 sister15877.39 and15877.79 I15877.95 being15878.51 aware.15878.83 She15879.47 was15879.63 systematically15879.87 being15880.67 given15880.91 quote15881.39 a15881.71 vitamin15881.87 as15882.51 I15882.75 witnessed15882.91 them15883.47 squirt15883.71 morphine15884.11 in15884.48 her15885.4 mouth.15886.32 And15886.4 every15886.64 time15886.96 I15887.16 went15887.36 to15887.4 visit15887.44 her15887.62 over15887.81 the15888 next15888.18 415888.37 months,15888.56 my15889.2 mother15889.28 was15889.6 chemically15889.68 restrained15890.48 in15891.2 the15891.36 living15891.52 room15891.92 and15892.16 in15892.4 her15892.56 bedroom.15892.72
15895.68 My15895.68 oldest15895.84 sister15896.24 fought15896.56 back15896.88 as15897.04 I15897.16 did15897.28 to15897.92 her15898 primary15898.16 care15898.18
15898.2 SPEAKER215898.2 -15898.2 and15898.2 they15898.22 modified15898.24 her15898.26 quote15898.28 vitamin,15898.3 morphine15898.32
15898.34 SPEAKER715898.34 -15898.34 to15898.34 a15898.36 very15898.38 low15898.4 dose.15898.72
15907.44 Past15907.44 February15909.2 28,15909.76 we15910.32 got15910.72 word15910.8 that15911.28 the15911.68 floor15911.76 was15912 on15912.16 lockdown.15912.4 She15913.76 had15914 the15914.16 flu.15914.32 Within15915.36 315915.68 days,15916 she15916.32 could15916.56 not15916.72 eat15916.88 or15917.12 drink.15917.28 They15918.32 allowed15918.56 me15918.8 to15918.96 go15919.04 and15919.2 see15919.36 her.15919.6 She15919.84 was15920 unresponsive.15920.32 Hospice15922.16 was15922.72 again15922.88 called15923.28 in.15923.6 My15924.16 mother15924.4 was15924.72 systematically15924.88 given15925.6 morphine15925.92 every15926.48 415926.72 hours.15926.96 She15928.26 runs15928.42 a15928.58 very15928.74 low15928.98 sodium15929.3 level15929.7 so15929.94 I15930.18 could15930.26 see15930.42 she15930.66 was15930.82 going15930.9 into15931.14 seizures15931.46 and15931.94 her15932.1 sodium15932.34 was15932.74 dropping.15932.9 They15933.78 would15933.94 not15934.18 do15934.34 a15934.5 chest15934.66 x-ray.15934.98 I15935.62 insisted.15935.94 The15936.58 chest15936.74 x-ray15936.98 was15937.38 negative.15937.54 They15939.14 would15939.38 not15939.54 start15939.78 IV15940.18 fluids15940.42 because15940.82 a15941.2 nurse15941.28 practitioner15941.52 said,15942.08 she15942.4 will15942.56 third15942.8 space15943.12 and15943.76 round15944.08 which15944.88 was15945.12 false.15945.28 My15947.04 mother15947.28 died15947.6 715948.8 days15949.12 later.15949.44 The15950.56 last15950.72 715951.04 days15951.28 of15951.68 her15951.84 life15952 were15953.48 worse15953.72 than15953.88 I15954.28 would15954.36 put15954.6 any15954.84 rat15955.72 through.15956.04 It15956.6 was15956.76 a15957.32 horrific15957.48 death15959.16 watching15959.64 every15960.28 single15960.6 healthy15961.24 organ15961.8 fail.15962.76 My15963.96 mother15964.12 drowned15964.44 to15964.84 death.15965 I15966.2 don't15966.36 know15966.52 what15966.76 death15967.2 report15967.44 is15967.76 going15967.92 to15968.24 show15968.4 but15969.36 the15969.6 solution15969.76 to15970.24 this15970.4 problem15970.72 is15972.4 to15972.72 oppose15974.08 this15974.48 bill.15974.72 The15975.52 solution15975.68 is15976.24 education.15976.48 The15978.08 solution15978.24 is15978.88 keep15979.28 every15979.68 patient15980.16 with15980.82 their15981.06 primary15981.38 care15981.94 doctor.15982.34 I15982.82 beg15983.06 this.15983.3 I15983.86 beg15984.1 for15984.26 a15984.5 reevaluation.15984.58 Hospice15985.86 and15986.26 palliative15986.5 care15986.98 are15987.3 not15987.46 what15987.7 they15987.86 were15988.02 designed15988.18 to15988.66 be.15988.74 We15989.46 need15989.7 to15989.86 end15990.1 that15990.42 scenario.15991.14 Patients15992.26 must15992.82 stay15993.14 with15993.38 their15993.54 primary15993.78 care15994.26 doctors.15994.58 Thank15995.06 you.15995.3 Thank15996.02
15998.27 SPEAKER215998.27 -15998.27 Thank15998.27 you.15998.35 At15998.91 this15999.15 time15999.39 I'm15999.63 going15999.87 to16000.19 welcome,16000.35 Janine16001.23 Beidouin.16002.27
16028.73 SPEAKER916028.73 -16028.73 I16028.73 thank16028.97 the16029.21 committee16029.37 and16029.77 legislators16030.41 and16031.85 all16032.17 those16032.41 who16032.57 are16032.81 here16032.89 today16033.13 taking16033.77 valuable16034.73 time16035.29 to16036.33 listen16036.49 to16036.81 my16037.05 thoughts16037.21 which16037.61 are16037.85 humble16039.21 and16039.93 probably16040.78 not16041.18 as16041.66 professional16041.82 as16042.22 some16042.38 of16042.54 the16042.62 others.16042.78 However,16043.5 I16043.9 think16043.98 I16044.3 speak16044.78 for16045.18 many16045.82 who16046.78 would16047.02 not16047.18 be16047.5 here,16047.66 who16048.14 have16048.62 never16048.86 stepped16049.26 foot16049.5 in16050.14 the16050.3 state16050.46 house16050.86 or16051.26 knew16051.74 really16052.06 how16052.38 to16052.54 effectively16052.94 communicate16053.66 with16053.98 legislators.16054.3 I've16055.34 learned16055.58 that16055.82 in16055.98 the16056.14 past16056.22 1016056.54 years16056.78 and16057.66 it's16057.82 made16058.06 a16058.46 difference16058.62 I16059.02 hope16059.18 in16060.06 some16060.3 instances16060.62 and16061.18 I16061.34 thank16061.42 you16061.58 so16061.82 much16061.98 for16062.22 being16062.38 available.16062.62
16065.18 I16065.18 don't16065.34 have16065.66 to16065.9 repeat16066.06 a16066.38 lot16066.46 of16066.7 what16066.78 was16067.02 said.16067.18 The16067.5
16071.39 the16071.39 efficacy16071.71 is16072.43 questionable16072.59 of,16073.39 the16074.35 medications16074.51 used16075.47 in16076.67 assisted,16076.91 suicides.16078.83 In16080.83 some16081.07 countries16081.23 I16081.71 had16082.03 to16082.27 resort16082.43 to16083.07 euthanasia16083.55 because16085 the16085.32 process16085.56 took16086.2 longer16086.44 and16087.4 was16087.72 not16088.12 as16088.52 smooth16088.76 as16089.24 I16089.4 predicted.16089.56 So16091.64 I16091.88 think16092.04 people16092.28 need16092.6 to16092.76 be16092.92 very16093.08 aware16093.48 that16094.2 what16094.44 they16094.68 hear16094.92 and16095.88 what16096.12 they16096.28 even16096.52 see16096.84 in16097 the16097.08 media16097.24 really16098.12 needs16098.36 to16098.68 be16098.76 examined.16098.92 My16100.39 screen16100.63 of16101.19 examining16101.59 is16102.39 through16102.47 my16102.87 faith.16103.03 I16103.99 believe16104.07 in16104.31 a16104.87 creator16105.19 who16105.75 from16106.23 the16106.27 beginning16106.31 has16106.55 had16106.79 a16107.35 plan16107.51 for16107.75 each16108.07 of16108.11 our16108.15 lives16108.47 to16108.71 be16108.79 as16108.95 meaningful16109.19 as16109.59 possible16109.91 and16111.11 as16111.35 wonderful16111.43 and16111.91 beautiful16112.07 as16112.23 possible16112.71 if16113.35 not16113.51 in16113.55 this16113.59
16113.64 SPEAKER216113.64 -16113.64 world16113.64 at16113.68 least16113.72 in16113.76 the16113.8 116113.84 to16113.89 come.16113.93 And16113.97 I16114.01 think16114.05 there16114.1 are16114.14 hundreds,16114.18 thousands16114.22 of16114.26 people16114.3 who16114.35
16114.39 SPEAKER916114.39 -16114.39 are16114.39 in16114.43 the16114.47 world16114.64 at16114.82 least16114.98 in16115.22 the16115.26 116115.3 to16115.7 come.16115.86 And16116.66 I16116.82 think16116.98 there16117.14 are16117.38 hundreds,16117.54 thousands16118.42 in16119.06 Massachusetts16119.3 who16120.42 know16120.66 this,16120.9 believe16121.22 this,16121.54 and16121.78 have16122.02 lived16122.26 by16122.58 this.16122.74 And16123.86 so16124.1 I'm16125.14 just16125.46 simply16125.7 sharing16126.42 a16126.92 little16127.08 bit16127.24 of16127.32 my16127.4 experience.16127.8 I've16128.2 done16128.36 a16128.6 little16128.68 bit16128.84 of16129.08 research.16129.16 However,16129.64 the16130.76 article,16131 in16132.04 the16134.44 British16134.68 Medical16135.16 Journal16135.64 listed16136.36 in16136.76 the16136.92 National16137.08 Library16137.56 of16137.96 Medicines16138.12
16148.48 emailing16148.48 in16148.88 some16149.52 references16149.76 for16150.4 this16150.56 if16151.52 you16151.76 want16151.84 to16152 read16152.35 more16152.51 about16152.75 it.16153.07 And16153.31 there16153.47 are16153.63 also16153.79 some16154.11 cases16154.43 where16155.07 people16155.31 have16155.63 reported16155.95 their16156.83 very16158.03 unfortunate16158.35 experiences16158.99 as16159.95 they16160.19 were16160.35 present16160.91 to16161.47 a16161.63 loving16161.71 116162.11 in16162.35 helping16162.51 them16162.83 to16163.55 to16163.71 try16164.55 to16164.79 ingest16164.95 the16165.31 the16165.67 the16166.39 enormous16166.55 amount16167.03 of16167.27 medicine.16167.43 What16168.31 I16168.55 will16168.63 share,16168.95 however,16169.27 is,16169.75 my16171.43 belief16171.75 in16172.31 palliative16172.79 care.16173.43 I've16173.83 seen16174.07 it16174.31 operate16174.63 in16174.95 different16175.19 ways.16175.51 My16175.75 mother16175.99 herself16176.31 died16176.87 from,16177.51 a16179.43 stroke16179.59 leaving16180.23 her16180.63 very,16180.87 very16181.19 disabled16181.91 for16182.55 a16182.71 long,16182.87 long16183.11 time.16183.35 But16183.99 in16184.23 a16184.47 very16184.55 special16184.79 way,16185.19 a16185.35 friend16185.51 of16185.75 mine16185.83 who16186.15 I16186.31 had16186.39 a16186.63 chance16186.79 to16187.75 spend16187.99 some16188.31 time16188.47 with16188.71 before16189.03 her16189.43 death,16189.67 she16190.07 was16190.55 her16190.79 third16191.17 bout16191.41 with16191.65 cancer,16191.89 she16192.37 had16192.77 remissions16193.09 from16193.65 the16193.81 other16193.89 2.16194.05 This16194.29 time16194.37 she16194.61 says16194.77 no,16195.01 I16195.73 don't16195.89 want16196.13 to16196.25 go16196.37 through16196.61 chemotherapy,16196.85 I16198.05 just16198.21 want16198.53 to16198.77 allow16199.57 what16200.85 my,16201.25 and16201.57 she16201.73 was16201.89 a16202.05 Christian,16202.21 what16203.33 my16203.65 creator16204.05 will16204.85 help16205.25 me16205.57 with.16205.81 And16206.5 so16206.66 I16206.9 visited16207.06 her,16207.46 she16207.7 had16207.86 a16208.1 little16208.18 morphine16208.42 drip16208.98 next16209.3 to16209.54 her16209.7 and16210.42 she16211.62 said16211.94 I16212.58 can16212.74 I16213.22 can16213.38 deal16213.54 with16213.7 the16213.86 pain16214.02 because16214.58 I16214.98 know16215.14 that16215.62 I16215.78 will16215.94 be16216.1 very16216.82 soon16217.14 someplace16217.62 much16218.26 better16218.58 than16218.82 I've16218.98 ever16219.14 been?16219.46 So16219.78 I16219.94 just16220.02 wanna16220.18 share16220.58 this16220.82 with16220.98 you.16221.22 Thank16221.74 you16221.9 very16221.98 much16222.3 for16222.54 your16222.7 time.16222.94
16224.06 SPEAKER216224.06 -16224.06 Thank16224.06 you16224.3 for16224.46 your16224.7 time.16224.86 Okay.16226.62 Stephen16227.18 Walsh,16227.42 you16227.74 got16227.82 in16227.98 at16228.14 the16228.3 nick16228.38 of16228.62 time.16228.78
16231.34 SPEAKER316231.34 -16231.34 Welcome.16231.34
16234.9 SPEAKER1016234.9 -16234.9 Hey.16234.9 Thanks16234.98 for16235.14 having16235.22 me.16235.62
16236.42 SPEAKER216236.42 -16236.42 Thanks16236.42 for16236.74 being16236.82 here.16237.06 To16237.3 be16237.46
16237.54 SPEAKER1016237.54 -16237.54 able16237.54 to16237.78 talk16237.86 to16238.02 the16238.18 right16238.34 people.16238.58
16239.14 SPEAKER416239.14 -16239.14 Talk16239.14 to16239.38 the16239.54 right16239.86 people.16240.02
16240.34 SPEAKER1016240.34 -16240.34 So,16240.34 I've16240.82 been16241.06 an16241.22 EMT16241.38 for16241.78 over16241.94 4016242.18 years.16242.5 I've16243.78 been16243.94 an16244.1 EMT16244.26 for16244.66 over16244.82 4016245.06 years.16245.22 I16245.46 have16245.62 seen16245.78 hundreds16246.1 of16246.5 people16246.66 die.16246.98 Hundreds.16247.61 And16248.41 I16248.65 see16248.81 them16248.97 die16249.13 very16249.45 sadly16249.69 alone.16250.09 I've16250.89 seen,16251.21 young16251.69 people16251.85 die16252.09 of16252.25 overdoses.16252.41 I've16252.97 seen16253.13 dead16253.29 babies.16253.53 I've16253.93 seen16254.09 all16254.25 sorts16254.41 of16254.65 people16254.81 die.16255.13 Anyone16256.73 who16257.13 would16257.37 suggest16257.53 that16258.01 you're16258.17 better16258.41 off16258.65 dead16258.97 is16260.01 nobody's16260.33 friend.16260.81 And16262.19 I16262.35 think16262.43 the16262.67 issues16262.83 with,16263.15 end16263.79 of16263.95 life16264.11 issues16264.35 obviously16264.75 is,16265.15 difficult16266.35 things16266.75 and16267.07 ethical16267.23 things16267.63 to16267.87 consider.16268.03 I16268.83 know16268.99 of16269.23 216269.39 people16269.63 who16269.95 were16270.67 advised16270.91 to16271.95 end16272.59 it16272.83 all16272.99 because16273.23 they16273.55 were16273.71 facing,16273.87
16276.94 dialysis16276.94 for16277.5 kidney16277.66 problems.16278.06 I16279.58 also16279.74 know16279.98 people16280.14 who've16280.38 had16280.54 kidney16280.78 problems16281.02 on16281.42 on16281.66 dial16281.82 not16282.22 on16282.54 dialysis16282.78 for16283.5 2516283.98 years.16284.54 So16286.06 somehow16286.22 they16286.62 were16286.7 convinced16286.94 that16287.42 their16288.63 life16288.95 was16289.19 not16289.35 living16289.59 because16289.99 they16290.31 had16290.39 some16290.55 challenges.16290.71 Also,16291.83 my16292.07 workplace,16292.31 I've16292.71 seen16292.87 people16293.11 come16293.35 back16293.43 from16294.39 pretty16294.63 serious16295.03 injuries16295.35 in16295.67 the16295.83 street.16295.91 I've16297.27 actually16297.43 had16297.75 times16297.91 when16298.15 I16298.31 send16298.47 people,16298.71 the16300.63 first16300.79 impression16301.03 is16301.43 that16301.59 they're16301.67 dead16301.91 and16302.79 they've16302.95 come16303.19 back.16303.35 I16303.75 see16304.02 people16304.18 actually16304.34 talking16304.9 after16305.22 the16305.94 assumption16306.1 was16306.58 they16306.74 were16306.9 dying.16307.14 So16308.1 there's16308.26 a16308.42 lot16308.66 of16308.74 lot16308.82 of16308.98 variables16309.06 on16309.46 this,16309.62 and16310.1 I16310.34 think16310.42 to16310.66 facilitate16310.9 someone's16311.46 death16311.86 is16312.02 just16312.18 wrong.16312.42 And16313.38 I16313.54 think16313.62 people16313.86 you16314.34 know,16314.58 if16314.98 you16315.06 study16315.3 it,16315.54 you16315.78 see16315.86 what's16316.02 happening16316.18 in16316.42 Europe,16316.5 see16316.82 what's16316.9 happening16317.06 in16317.38 Canada.16317.46 It's16317.78 very16317.94 popular.16318.26 It's16318.66 very16318.82 hip.16318.98 It's16319.28 very16319.36 cool.16319.6 It's16320 wrong.16320.24 If16320.96 somebody16321.2 suggests16321.6 you're16322 better16322.24 off16322.48 dead,16322.64 they're16323.36 not16323.52 your16323.76 friend.16323.92 That's16325.68 all16325.92 I16326.08 got16326.16 to16326.32 say.16326.48 Thanks.16326.72
16327.84 SPEAKER216327.84 -16327.84 Thank16327.84 you.16328.08 Thank16328.48 you16328.64 for16328.88 your16329.04 work.16329.28 At16330.8 this16330.96 time,16331.2 as16331.36 we16331.52 move16331.76 to16331.92 adjourn,16332.08 I16332.56 wanna16332.72 thank16333.12 everyone16333.85 who16334.65 has,16335.05 taken16336.09 the16336.33 time16336.49 to16336.89 come16337.29 here16337.45 today16337.77 to16338.33 provide16338.49 testimony16338.89 in16339.61 writing16339.77 or,16340.17 to16341.61 provide16341.77 it16342.17 verbally.16342.25 I16343.29 want16343.53 to16343.85 thank16344.01 Scott16344.49 for16345.05 all16345.37 of16345.53 your16345.69 work16345.85 today.16346.17 I16346.81 wanna16347.05 thank16347.29 Felipe16347.45 from16347.93 LIS.16348.17 Thank16348.73 you16348.89 for16349.05 all16349.13 of16349.29 your16349.37 work.16349.53 I16350.09 wanna16350.25 thank16350.49 all16350.73 of16350.89 my16351.05 incredible16351.21 house16351.61 members16351.85 who16352.57 have16353.05 stayed16353.21 for16353.53 this16353.69 who16353.93 who16354.33 have16354.57 been16354.73 here16354.81 and16355.05 who16355.21 have16355.37 stayed16355.45 for16355.69 this16355.85 entire16356.01 hearing,16356.41 listening16357.61 to16358.17 really16358.81 important16359.21 subject16359.61 matter16360.01 that16360.41 is16360.57 clearly16361.09 important16361.57 and16361.97 sensitive16362.13 to16362.61 people16362.69 regardless16363.09 of16363.49 where16363.65 they16363.81 fall16363.97 on16364.21 this16364.37 issue.16364.53 So16365.17 thank16365.33 you16365.57 for16365.89 honoring16366.21 the16366.69 public16366.77 with16367.17 your16367.33 time16367.57 and16367.89 your16367.97 presence.16368.21 And16368.77 I16369.01 wanna16369.09 thank16369.33 my16369.57 colleague16369.73 and16370.21 co16370.45 chair16370.61 senator16370.93 Driscoll16371.33 for16371.73 being16371.89 here16372.13 today.16372.29 I16374.21 think16374.37
16376.21 SPEAKER1116376.21 -16376.21 Thank16376.21 you,16376.45 chair16376.61 Decker.16376.93 Thank16377.57 you16377.73 to16377.89 my16378.05 legislative16378.21 colleagues,16378.69 on16379.89 the16380.13 committee16380.21 and16380.61 those16381.17 that16381.49 we16381.65 heard16381.81 from16382.13 today.16382.53 You16384.21 know,16384.37 obviously16384.85 new16385.41 chair16385.57 of16385.89 the16385.97 of16386.13 the16386.29 committee,16386.45 but,16386.85 you16387.25 know,16387.41 we're16388.04 116388.36 for16388.6 216388.76 on16389 singing,16389.16 at16390.12 our16390.36 hearings16390.52 in16390.92 terms16391 of,16391.96 you16392.12 know,16392.2 a16392.44 new16392.6 way16392.76 to16393 approach16393.08 folks16393.64 and16393.96 it16394.2 does,16394.36 but16394.68 in16394.92 seriousness,16395.16 it16395.64 gives16395.72 us,16395.96 a16396.84 real16397 chance16397.24 to16397.56 hear16397.72 from16397.96 folks16398.12 on16398.44 all16399.24 sides16399.48 of16399.8 an16399.96 issue.16400.12 It's16400.92 appreciated.16401.24 Gives16402.04 us16402.36 research16402.52 to16403 questions16403.3 that16403.7 we16404.42 may16404.5 come16404.74 back16404.9 and16405.06 ask16405.22 later.16405.54 Would16406.66 encourage16406.98 anybody16407.46 that16408.5 want16408.74 to16408.98 say16409.06 more16409.3 or16409.7 thinks16409.86 of16410.1 something16410.18 as16410.5 soon16410.66 as16410.9 you16410.98 walk16411.06 out16411.22 the16411.38 door16411.54 to16411.78 submit16411.94 that,16412.26 you16412.66 know,16412.82 a16413.14 testimony16413.22 in16413.78 writing16413.94 to16414.26 us16414.42 and,16415.3 we'll16416.34 do16416.5 our16416.66 best16416.82 as16417.06 we16417.22 discern16417.46 a16418.02 a16418.18 way16418.26 forward.16418.5 So16418.82 thank16419.62 you.16419.78
16420.5 SPEAKER216420.5 -16420.5 Thank16420.5 you,16420.74 senator.16420.9 And16421.3 thank16421.46 you16421.62 to16421.78 my16421.94 incredible16422.1 staff,16422.58 Daniella,16423.78 who16424.26 is16424.42 joined16424.58 here,16424.82 Ramla16425.22 and16425.78 Sarah,16426.02 and16426.66 public16426.9 health16427.22 and16427.46 chief16427.62 of16427.86 staff16428.02 Ryan.16428.26 Thank16428.86 you16429.02 for16429.18 all16429.26 of16429.38 the16429.5 incredible16429.74 housework16430.14 that16430.54 went16430.7 into16430.94 getting16431.26 this16431.5 hearing16431.66 ready.16431.98 With16432.38 that,16432.62 we16432.78 are16432.94 adjourned.16433.1