Wrong On Suicide: The Letter the Kansas City Star Refused to Print

I am an attorney and president of Choice is an Illusion, a nonprofit corporation opposed to assisted suicide and euthanasia. Formed in 2010, Choice is an Illusion fights against assisted suicide and euthanasia throughout the US and in other countries.

David Grube’s guest commentary claims that Oregon’s suicide rates “overall have gone down ... since its Death with Dignity Act went into effect in 1997.” This claim is false.

Hey Kansas City Star: Oregon’s Suicide Rates Went Up, Not Down!

On August 4, 2018, the Kansas City Star published a guest commentary with this false statement:

National and state level data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Vital Statistics System suggest that suicide rates have varied slightly, but overall have gone down in Oregon since its Death with Dignity Act went into effect in 1997.

Per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Oregon’s suicide rates WENT UP, NOT DOWN, 28.2 %  See https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/suicide/infographic.html#graphic1

I REQUEST THAT THE KANSAS CITY STAR CORRECT THIS ERROR

Kansas Medical Society Policy Statement

On April 30, 2011, the Kansas Medical Society adopted this statement against physician assisted suicide.  To view a print copy, click here.

ISSUE SUMMARY

Assisted suicide is the intentional advising, encouraging, or assisting another person in the taking of his or her own life, which is illegal in Kansas.  Patient requests for physician assisted suicide should be a signal to the physician that the patient’s needs are unmet and further evaluation to identify the elements contributing to the patient’s suffering is necessary.  Multidisciplinary intervention, including specialty consultation, pastoral care, family counseling and other modalities should be sought as clinically indicated.