True Compassion = No Assisted Suicide!

You are all invited to join the True Compassion Advocates on Friday, March 5th, 2010 (the one year anniversary of legalized assisted suicide) from noon - 1pm  for a protest against Assisted Suicide at the University of Washington Medical Center (one of the few hospitals in our area to "opt in" to offering assisted suicide). Please consider coming out as a witness of love to show our community that is precious in all of its forms.  (For more information, please read the letter below.) 

 

Dear True Compassion Advocates,

 

It’s hard to believe that we’re more than two months into the New Year.  Now, with February passing quickly and March only a few weeks away, the one year anniversary of legalized assisted suicide in Washington State is just around the corner.

No doubt this date will be celebrated by suicide promoters like Compassion and Choices, but compassion advocates will commemorate this tragic anniversary by joining together to demonstrate on behalf of those victimized by suicide and assisted suicide.  We’ll meet at UW Medical Center in Seattle—one of the few hospitals which decided to opt in to offering lethal drug overdoses to suicidal ill people under the Act.  Please join us March 5th, on the sidewalk near the front of the UW hospital at 1959 NE Pacific St. from Noon-1 PM.  Mark your calendars and make demonstrating compassion  on March 5th a priority.  With lives at risk, what could be more important?

One year later, it’s clear that “choice” is a lie.  Washington’s voters mistakenly thought they voted for a law full of safeguards from abuse.  Instead, the so-called Death with Dignity Act has become a recipe for elder abuse and an occasion for encouraging “well seniors” to commit suicide.   In the last few months alone, True Compassion Advocates has fielded phone calls

• about senior citizens feeling pressured to commit suicide, assisted suicide, or euthanasia because “my children told me the cost of my assisted living is eating into their inheritance,”
•  from upset family members, frightened a loved one is planning “choose” assisted suicide because of economic pressures or inadequate health or home care coverage,
•  from devastated health care professionals, anguished at feeling forced to assist suicidal patients in killing themselves,
• about an unsavory suicide promotion group hosting a ‘how to commit suicide’ workshop for “well elders” and making plans to open an office to facilitate suicide-related tourism.

        
Clearly, sitting at home and hoping the abuse of assisted suicide will go away is not an option.  So what can we do?

 

Join us on March 5th.  Save lives and influence people. Help us get the message out: "We're here for you.  We care for you.  Suicide and assisted suicide are not the answer."  Help TCA  create safe harbor communities  in your area—places where vulnerable ill people can go to receive health care they can trust with their lives—care which includes true compassion, rather than the false choices like assisted suicide.

 

Join thousands across Washington and even more around the world who are receiving regularly-updated resources, information, and support from the True Compassion Advocates web site.  Support family members, friends, and members of your community with TCA’s resources on health care choices, aging with courage, serious illness support, caregiver resources, and suicide prevention.  Look for us on Facebook. You can either search for True Compassion Advocates, or click the link on the bottom of our homepage.  Become a fan, invite your friends to do the same, and share our updates.

Answering the daily calls from those in need and from media, creating these extensive resources, and continuing our vital work takes both time and money—both of which are in short supply.  There is so much more we can do, but we need your help.  Please consider making a life-saving donation to the essential work of True Compassion Advocates.

Thank you for all you are doing to advocate for quality, compassionate care and to offer positive choices and alternatives to suicide and assisted suicide. It is an honor and a privilege to work alongside you.  As always, please contact us if you have questions or need resources to support your role as a True Compassion Advocate. See you on the 5th!   We’ll even bring the signs!

 

Sincerely,

 

Eileen Geller
Carrie Herring
Marie Harkins
True Compassion Advocates