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Terminally ill in Vermont can now get approval to end lives via Zoom

May 03, 2022

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A new Vermont law allows terminally ill patients to get approval to end their lives via Zoom, Skype or other telemedicine platforms, according to The National Review. Previously, Vermont law had required doctors to examine their patients in person before prescribing a lethal dose of medication, but that’s now optional. Assisted suicide, as some describe the practice, has been legal in Vermont since 2013.

Supporters have said the practice gives patients control to choose their fate.

“These people who have cancer, who have brain tumors want to live – they don’t want to die, but they don’t want to be in pain at the end,” New York Assemblymember Amy Paulin (D) said. Paulin sponsored a similar bill in New York to allow what’s become known as ‘aid in dying’ after her sister’s battle with stage four ovarian cancer.

Opponents have said that some healthcare services shouldn’t be allowed through virtual channels because a patient should be in front of a care provider, in the same room, to talk through what may be a difficult decision.

“It’ll corrupt the practice of medicine, it’ll compromise the doctor-patient relationship,” said Dr. Ryan Anderson, author of the first comprehensive report on physician-assisted suicide for The Heritage Foundation.

ASSISTED SUICIDE JUST BECAME A LOT EASIER IN THE STATE OF VERMONT

A NEW LAW ALLOWS TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS TO GET APPROVAL VIA TELEMEDICINE TO END THEIR LIVES

IN THIS CASE – ZOOM, SKYPE OR OTHER LIVE VIDEO PLATFORM.

THE LAW HAD PREVIOUSLY REQUIRED THAT DOCTORS EXAMINED THEIR PATIENTS IN PERSON BEFORE PRESCRIBING THEM A LETHAL DOSE- AND NOW THAT’S OPTIONAL.

WHILE ASSISTED SUICIDE HAS BEEN LEGAL IN VERMONT SINCE 2013 – THE STATE’S GOVERNOR JUST AMENDED THE LAW. NOW THOSE LIFE OR DEATH DECISIONS – CAN BE MADE VIRTUALLY IF DEEMED CLINICALLY APPROPRIATE. 

IT’S A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC. 

RIGHT NOW ONLY TEN STATES AND WASHINGTON DC ALLOW ASSISTED SUICIDE

SUPPORTERS SAY IT’S ABOUT THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE – 

“These people who have cancer, who have brain tumors want to live – they don’t want to die, but they don’t want to be in pain at the end”

OPPONENTS SAY ASSISTED SUICIDE IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE –

“It’ll corrupt the practice of medicine, it’ll compromise the doctor-patient relationship. It’ll really compromise the family”

DO YOU THINK ITS THE NEXT STEP FOR TELEHEALTH OR DOES THIS GO TOO FAR? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW