X-Message-Number: 9789 Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 09:33:55 -0700 From: David Brandt-Erichsen <> Subject: PAS on Michigan ballot The following press release was issued by Robert E. Moreillon, Inc. Contact Bob Moreillon (248) 449-6999 after hours (248) 344-4467 FOR CLIENT: Merian's Friends Contact Dr. Ed Pierce, chair (734) 761-1066 ____________________________________________________________________ PHYSICIAN AID IN DYING WILL BE ON THE BALLOT IN MICHIGAN LANSING, MI, May 26 -- The grassroots, citizens' initiative group Merian's Friends carried 96 boxes of petitions bearing more than 379,813 signatures into the offices of the Michigan Bureau of Elections in the Mutual Building here today to place the question of Physician Aid in Dying on the Michigan ballot this fall. Only 247,127 valid signatures are needed, collected within a six-month period, but the group had set its sights on 350,000 in order to make up for invalid signatures. "The success of our signature gathering and money raising speaks to the ground swell of support for this issue," said Dr. Edward C. Pierce, chair of Merian's Friends. "Polls show that Michigan voters favor Physician Aid in Dying almost two to one -- 59 percent in favor and only 33 percent opposed," said Dr. Pierce, a retired family practitioner from Ann Arbor who has guided the campaign since its inception in January, 1996. Carol Frederick Poenisch of Northville, co-founder of the group and daughter of its namesake, Merian Frederick, told the group that at last her mother will be vindicated. Merian's Friends was formed by Poenisch, Dr. Pierce and Dr. Ron Bishop, vice- chair, after Merian Frederick had to end her life with Dr. Kevorkian=EDs help. A victim of Lou Gehrig=EDs Disease, Frederick could no longer speak or swallow or hold up her head. She refused to become a mind trapped in a suffocating body, and wished to end her life and suffering. When her own doctors could not comply due to state law, she went to Dr. Kevorkian and became his patient number 19, and the subject of his second Oakland County trial. "My mother chose the time and place of her dying, and that should be the right of all people," said Poenisch. "Terminally-ill, mentally competent adults should have the right to control the end of their lives," said Dr. Pierce. "The dictators of pain and suffering who control the legislature and wouldn=EDt let the people vote on this have lost this round," said Dr. Pierce. Both the Senate and House of Representatives voted down amendments that would have allowed the issue to go to a vote of the people this fall. Instead, they voted a ban on assisted suicide, making it a five-year felony. The next step for Merian's Friends is to build a war chest to finance the campaign and produce advertising. "The opposition has vowed to spend up to $4 million against giving people the right to control their own deaths," said Dr. Pierce. "We are going to need a lot of help." "The opposition fought this same issue in Oregon and outspent the physician aid in dying folks by four to one. Yet, the people voted the law in and it=EDs in effect there now." Dr. Pierce said the opposition is mainly from Right to Life and the Catholic Bishops, although he said polls show the majority of Catholic lay people are for Physician Aid in Dying. Dr. Pierce urges everyone who is interested in joining the campaign to phone Merian's Friends, toll-free, at 1-888-217-0700, or write to them at PO Box 272, Northville, MI 48167. Dr. Pierce says Merian's Friends=ED proposed law contains more safeguards for the dying patient than the Oregon Law. The main points and safeguards of the proposed law, titled in the petition as "The Patient's Right to End Unbearable Pain or Suffering, are: =85 The Patient must make the request himself/herself in writing, with two witnesses. =85 Patients have the right to withdraw their requests at any time. =85 A psychiatrist must find the patient mentally competent to make the decision. =85 Both the patient=EDs doctor and a specialist must certify that patient is terminally ill. =85 The patient must be advised of all other forms of comfort care, such as hospice. =85 A one-week waiting period is required so the patient can reconsider before the lethal prescription is written. =85 The patient takes the prescription drugs himself/herself, whenever he/she is ready. =85 Participation by physicians and health care units is Completely voluntary. =85 Penalties are provided for physicians who violate the law. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=9789