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10 ¦ FEBRUARY 24, 2020 NEWS

¦ From MY SISTER-IN-LAW on PAGE 9 The next step is a public hear-
ing and vote, no later than March
Expect pushback
Longtime Connecticut attorney 27. The bill would then need the
Audrey Blondin, who opposes the support of the majority of the leg-
proposed law, expects a legal bat- A Connecticut bill passed islators, and Gov. Ned Lamont
tle, if the measure passes. through the state’s Public would need to sign off on it for it
Health Committee by a 12-9 to become law.
“If this becomes law, I foresee a
time where a group would get to- vote, is fashioned after Under the current iteration,

gether and challenge the legality legislation in states that Abrams said the Connecticut leg-
of the right to assisted suicide in
court. I absolutely see that,” Blon- have aid-in-dying laws in islation contains language that
din said. “It would probably go to only people who have six months
place. or less to live would qualify for

Superior Court and move its way assisted suicides. Plus, the patient
up the ladder to the state Supreme would have to provide written
Court, just as happened with the and verbal consent, must be in
death penalty.” extreme pain, and must have two doctors sign off
In the same way, the fight could jump from the on the decision. The death would then proceed via a
state to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has ruled the liquid drug, Abrams said.
death penalty constitutional. But opposition will be strong and fierce, Chapman
Chapman also sees red flags for the legal and believes.
medical professions. “I see pushback across the board, not only from
“Another important ethical concern is what kind the Roman Catholic community, but from many
of care a patient has, and whether or not there have others,” Chapman said. “The law in most states is in
been competent efforts to have a physician reduce favor of trying to maintain life. Obviously, this law
the pain,” Chapman said. “One would not want a would contradict that. There will be a lot of opposi-
patient to make a decision because they can’t get ap- tion for both religious and ethical reasons.”
propriate medical care.” Blondin agrees.
The Connecticut bill, which passed through the “I can respect the argument of a person’s right to
state’s Public Health Committee 12-9, is fashioned self-determination but, again, I do not believe that
after legislation in states that have aid-in-dying laws outweighs the duty to take someone’s life,” she said.
in place, according to Mary Abrams, co-chairwom- “I think you will see an immediate mobilization
an of the committee. California, Colorado, Hawaii, of the Catholic Church and many other religious
Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Washington lobbies to oppose this, much the same way groups
and the District of Columbia all have such laws. But mobilized against legalizing marijuana.”
a similar bill has failed in Connecticut numerous But Abrams, who supports the legislation, doesn’t
times in recent years. anticipate its broad application.
“The people who will avail themselves of this op-
tion if this becomes law would be quite small,” she
Visit said. “It gives people peace of mind, and control
over their own situation. It also gives them comfort
ctlawtribune.com to know that they ultimately have that control.” ¦
Robert Storace covers legal trends, lawsuits and
PHONE: 860-757-6659
analysis for the Connecticut Law Tribune. Follow

him on Twitter @RobertSCTLaw or reach him at

203-437-5950.

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