How does assisted suicide affect you?

Currently, 15 U.S. states are considering legislation that would legalize assisted suicide, and five states, where the practice is already legal, are considering legislation aimed at expanding it. These numbers are recorded on the websites of the leading (and well-funded) organizations supporting such legislation. One of the states considering legalizing assisted suicide is the state in which I live, Illinois. On Feb. 21, I testified before the State Senate’s Executive Committee at its first hearing on the bill that would make it legal to have assisted suicide in Illinois.

The hearing began with the bill’s lead sponsor, Sen. Linda Holmes, providing her reasons for introducing this legislation. Those reasons are rooted in her experience during the deaths of her parents. She also pointed out that she did not truly understand the opposition to the bill since it had, in her words, “guardrails” that would keep any abuses from occurring. In addition, she said that if those who oppose the bill did not want to receive assisted suicide, they were free not to have assisted suicide; no one would force it on them. “Why,” she asked, “are you so concerned about something that doesn’t affect you? I would really like an answer to that.”

Even though I had already drafted my testimony, within it were two answers to Sen. Holmes’ question. First, two studies have found a consistent pattern that passing legislation like this increases suicide rates overall. One study from 2015 published in Southern Medical Journal examined data from Oregon and Washington, two states where assisted suicide is legal, and found that “legalizing PAS [physician assisted suicide] was associated with a 6.3% ... increase in suicides.” In addition, suicide in people over 65 years of age increased by 14.5%.

A 2022 study published in the Journal of Ethics in Mental Health found that in Europe, the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide “is followed by considerable increases in suicide ... and in intentional self-initiated death.” The conclusion states, in part, “Many more people have died prematurely after these changes.”

In the United States, 2022 saw a record high number of suicides, with death by suicide the highest it has been since 1941. The number of suicides remains high today and is considered one of the leading causes of death in the United States. In July of 2022, we witnessed the implementation of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, demonstrating our society’s rightly placed concern for those who are at risk of suicide.

Here in Illinois, the state has made suicide prevention a key aim by enacting The Suicide Prevention, Education and Treatment Act, which established the Illinois Suicide Prevention Alliance (ISPA.) This alliance developed the Illinois Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan “to reverse the relentlessly increasing suicide rates in the State of Illinois.”

Legalizing assisted suicide increases the overall number of suicides and counteracts these and other truly vital, lifesaving, and life-affirming efforts.

Second, the safeguards or guardrails outlined in the Illinois bill will eventually be viewed as barriers to access, as is the case in five states where assisted suicide is legal and where amendments are being considered that would “expand access” to assisted suicide. For example, in California, where assisted suicide was legalized in 2016, amendments were introduced last year (and are in the process of being refiled for this year) that would remove the requirement that the patient have a terminal illness, allow mid-stage dementia patients to access assisted suicide, allow assisted suicide drugs to be taken via IV, remove the waiting period before receiving life-ending medications, and remove the California residency requirement.

Each of these are among the so-called guardrails outlined in the Illinois bill. In California, however, these former guardrails are now “excluding many” from accessing assisted suicide. At least one organization is keeping a running list of efforts around the country to remove the safeguards surrounding assisted suicide. The list is both extensive and growing.

This demonstrates a consistent pattern: Pass a bill with supposed safeguards and then work to remove those safeguards. I told the Senate committee, “Mark my words, if you pass this bill, this pattern will happen here too. Today’s safeguards will be tomorrow’s barriers.”

There are many other problems with the practice of assisted suicide, but these two reasons, I believe, get to the heart of the question Sen. Holmes asked: Why are you so concerned about something that doesn’t affect you? Suicide contagion is real. We are not the isolated, atomistic individuals that Sen. Holmes would have us believe we are. No one is an island. What I do effects those in my community and in our society. The same is true for the things you do. What you do affects me, my friends, my family, and those in our community.

Note: Suicidal thoughts or actions (even in very young children, older adults, and people with life-threatening illness/disability) are signs of extreme distress and should not be ignored. If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Learn more about ways you can help someone who might be at risk for self-harm.

This column was written with research assistance from Heather Zeiger.