The “death with dignity” folks are back with another wordy piece of legislation to get the State into the business of supervising self-discorporation. While we have more than demonstrated how dangerous this course is, those obsessed with death and depopulation continue to seek paths to state-managed suicide.
The first hearing for this year’s “effort” (HB254) was Wednesday. I have not looked at all the testimony yet and doubt I’ll have time, but I did receive written testimony via email from the Staffords that was to be read before the committee.
I am including all four here for your consideration. If you’l like to review the scores of articles we’ve published on the topic and real-world examples of what goes wrong and just how quickly, our archive can be found here or you can select the ‘slippery slope tag at the bottom of this article.
My name is Lydia Safford and although I am not able to be here in person because I am working with the disability community at my job, I thank my mother for reading what I wrote. I am a 25-year-old woman, artist, disability advocate, sibling to two brothers who have disabilities, and Career Resource Specialist. My job is to help all people including people with disabilities find meaningful work. Not only find meaningful work for people, but together, change the world of work by challenging worldviews and subconscious biases, by showing that all people can work.
Life does not end when you are diagnosed with a disability, chronic disease, or mental health illness, in fact it truly begins because you learn just how valuable life is. I do not have a disability, but I have struggled with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation for 13 years. There have been moments and are still moments where I feel that the world would be better off without me. I think back to my junior year of college when I was struggling so heavily with suicidal thoughts, that I called my mom crying like a child because I felt completely hopeless. To emphasize just how much I was suffering, I hardly ever open up to my mom about these things. I have wanted to take my life many times, but I fully believe that the moment I did, I would regret it.
If I had taken my life in that empty student apartment, I would have missed out on graduating college, meeting the love of my life, and learning how to use coping skills to manage my anxiety and depression. I would have missed out on meeting people who have completely changed my life. I believe that passing this assisted suicide bill would be dangerous not only for myself and those who struggle with mental health, but for the disability community. It would not only put these groups in danger but reinforce the idea that people with disabilities have no value and are better off dead.
Just because life is hard does not mean it is not worth living. Living with depression and anxiety is hard, but it does not mean life is not worth living. Watching my two older brothers lose their battle with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is hard, but it does not mean that life is not worth living. Disability has made my life harder, but it is the greatest gift that I have been given in this life. I wholeheartedly believe that passing this bill would encourage people to view disability as a problem to erase, instead of recognizing the invaluable perspectives and blessings that come with it. Please vote no on HB254. Thank you.
Number two
My name is Benjamin Safford. I live in Pelham. I am 28 years old, and I live with a fatal disease with no cure, called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
I am here to oppose a bill that threatens my very existence. HB 254 promotes an ignorant, ableist worldview and is offensive to myself and the disability community as a whole.
All National disability organizations and those based here in NH oppose this cruel legislation. They recognize, as do I, that bills like this oppress people like me and discourage medical professionals from treating us with dignity and equity. Able individuals are encouraged to seek mental health and pain management while those with disabilities, like me, are often encouraged just to end it all. This bill doubles down on these ableist attitudes.
Great strength and courage are shown by those who chose to continue living despite chronic and debilitating physical, mental and emotional pain and suffering. More energy should be spent by the State to support these courageous individuals.
I am tired of living in a world where people with disabilities are isolated and pushed to the outskirts of society. Health and Human Services and Medicaid are a huge part of our State’s budget. It is my fear that this bill will be used to limit medical treatment and services to people like me.
Respectfully, the sponsors of this bill fail to recognize the dangerous precedent this bill sets for the treatment of my community.
Number three
My name is Lori Safford. I live in Pelham with my two adult sons. I am here to ask you to oppose HB254.
I am a Christian and believe that all life is sacred from the womb to the tomb. However, I am also a member of the disability community and have been for almost 30 years. I have many friends here in NH and around the country who have loved ones with disabilities. More often than not, I am on the other side of the political aisle from my progressive friends. But not when it comes to Assisted Suicide. We come to you today with a unified message: Physician assisted suicide bills represent an inherent danger to people with disabilities. And, asking a physician to help a person die is inherently contrary to the oath they take to do no harm.
In 2002 Ben and Sam were diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a fatal muscle-wasting genetic defect with no cure. The Pediatric Neurologist at Boston Children’s told us to “take them home & love them because they won’t survive their teens.” Ben and Sam are now 27 and almost 29. Doctors are only human and even when they have no ulterior motive or financial incentive, they are often wrong. Ben has a social work degree and Sam is a talented writer, speaker, and artist. They live full and meaningful lives not despite their disability, but because of it.
My husband died a difficult death at age 53 from pulmonary disease. My daughter was only 12 at the time and for many years she struggled with mental health issues. As a teen she had suicidal ideation and struggled with self harm. Although she continues to struggle, she Fast forward eight years and she is now a happy, well-adjusted independent 25-year old college grad living on her own.
My 88-yo mom is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. I am her medical and financial representative. Much of my life has been caring for those with physical, cognitive or mental health challenges. It has been more blessing than burden! I can tell you that Assisted Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. The right to die often becomes the duty to die. Ben and Sam know that they are nearing the end of their battle with DMD. They have chosen to sign Do Not Resuscitate and Polst Forms so that no extraordinary measures will be taken when their time comes. But life and death should be in the hands of the One who created us, not in the hands of medical professionals. God’s Word tells us in Deuteronomy 30:19 “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life,”
Number four.
Good Afternoon. I’m Samuel Safford from Pelham, NH. At age 4 I was diagnosed with a rare genetic defect called Duchenne MD. It is fatal and has no cure. The doctors told my parents that my brother and I would not live long enough to graduate high school, never mind go to college or get a job. But they were wrong.
My life has not been easy. My father passed away when I was 13. I was the only kid in a wheelchair in High School. I used to sit alone at lunch, I was sad, lonely and depressed.
Back in 2021, after a hospital stay, I was diagnosed with a brain bacteria called Bartonella. This illness is an opportunistic pathogen from a tick or flea bite that causes brain inflammation leading to psychiatric issues. My physical disability was nothing compared to the psychiatric symptoms of Bartonella. It was unbearable. My depression turned into despair, and I began waking up every morning wanting to die. These suicidal thoughts became too much for me.
If Assisted Suicide had been legal when I was in the depths of my despair, it would have seemed like the best option. It would have been a permanent solution to what felt like permanent pain. Fortunately, I had a strong advocate in my mother who instead found me help and support from a counselor and homeopathic doctor.
Four years later I can say that I am well and enjoy a rich, abundant life. I am a member of a Toastmaster’s group in Windham and enjoy giving motivational speeches. I am a writer, singer and artist and I’m active in my church and community. My life has value and dignity.
I urge you to oppose Assisted Suicide. The medical community and insurance companies will only use it to end the lives of people like me. Instead, let’s provide compassionate care. No matter how you look at it, there is no dignity in suicide.
Thank you for your time.
