In August, State Rep. Tom Cochran introduced House Bill 5802 – better known as “The Death with Dignity Act” – to the Michigan House of Representatives.
The bill would regulate physician assistance for patient-requested life-ending medication. To receive the medication, the patient must have a terminal illness that is medically confirmed to cause death within six months.
The patient must be of sound mind, according to their physician. Two witnesses, who do not stand to gain anything from the death of the individual, must be present during the request.
This topic has a deep history in Michigan.
In the 1990s, Dr. Jack Kevorkian of Holly, Mich. assisted in the suicide of 130 people. Many of the people were assisted by a method which employed an oxygen mask connected to a canister of carbon monoxide.
The tube connecting the canister and the mask was pinched with a clip, and the patient would simply remove the clip when they were ready.
On September 17, 1998, Kevorkian administered lethal injection to his last patient, Thomas Youk. He injected Youk himself in an effort to get a law passed in Michigan allowing him to freely assist people who sought his service.
He was sentenced 10-25 years in prison for second-degree murder. Dr. Death, as he was called, was released on good behavior in 2007 and died in 2011.
Since then, five states have legalized physician-assisted death. Before Kevorkian, there were zero with legislation allowing it.
The state of Oregon passed an identical bill to Cochran’s in 1997. The state of Washington passed its in 2008, Vermont in 2013 and California and Colorado in 2016. In February, the law went into effect in D.C. as well.
As of April 21, 2017, there are 25 states considering physician-assisted death legislation this year. The Michigan bill has been assigned to the Health Policy Committee and is awaiting a hearing, but Cochran is not sure if it will get one.
“It’s very controversial,” Cochran said. “Many religious groups came out in opposition in the past.”
Cochran is a former paramedic and former fire chief of the department in Lansing.
“I saw a lot of tragedy and death,” Cochran said.
He saw firsthand the pain and suffering terminally ill people and their families go through. Not only the emotional costs did Cochran say were difficult, but the financial costs of treatment as well.
“I just feel very strongly that as a thinking human being that I should have to make a decision in certain situations to end my life,” Cochran said.
The debate is similar to that of gay-marriage and abortion. Many faiths have scriptures that speak against the idea of taking one’s own life.
Kim Kuo, a writer for Christianity Today, argued in 2015 that “people – even doctors – are ill-equipped to play God in determining the end of life.”
Cochran said people are generally in favor of the legislation, and he sees more positive reactions than negative ones. But the opposition he does see is like what Kuo debated.
He said he is not trying to play God. He just believes “people who are suffering should have the choice.”
The bill is currently in the Health Policy Committee awaiting a hearing.
1990: Dr. Kevorkian assists in the suicide of his first patient, Janet Adkins.
1997: Oregon puts “Death with Dignity Act” into effect, allowing physicians to help terminally-ill patients seeking medication to end their lives.
1998: Kevorkian sentenced 10-25 years in prison for second-degree murder.
2007: Kevorkian released from prison on good behavior and begins advocating for physician-assisted death.
2008: The state of Washington passes its law allowing physician-assisted death in certain cases.
2013: Vermont adopts a “Choice and Control at the End of Life Act,” allowing physician assisted death.
2016: California’s “End of Life Option Act” takes effect, starting on June 9.
2016: State Reps. Tom Cochran and Sam Singh introduce “The Death with Dignity Act” to the Michigan House of Representatives.
2016: Voters in Colorado pass the “End of Life Options Act” on November 8 by a margin of 65 – 35.
2017: D.C. puts into effect the “Death with Dignity Act” in February.