A Disturbing Link Between Medically-Assisted Suicide and Rising Suicide Rates
“Controlling for various socioeconomic factors, unobservable state and year effects, and state-specific linear trends, we found that legalizing PAS [physician-assisted suicide] was associated with a 6.3 percent increase in total suicides.” Later, the researchers commented that “the introduction of [physician-assisted suicide] seemingly induces more self-inflicted deaths than it inhibits.”
Suicide is an epidemic, both nationally and here in NH. Campaigns targeting teens and young adults are starting to result in some declines, but overall, suicide rates are on the rise. Suicide rates rose in 2022 overall but declined for teens and young adults | New Hampshire Public Radio (nhpr.org)
Suicide rates in NH are also increasing, as NH ranks the 2nd highest suicide rate in New England and 19th nationally Suicide rates in NH | Citizens Count
Legislators need to consider the possible consequences of legalizing physician-assisted suicide by looking at trends in other states, and Canada, that have PAS legislation in place.
Oregon, the first state to pass assisted suicide legislation in 1997, saw a significant increase in overall suicide rates; suicides peaked in 2010 when Oregon surpassed the national suicide average by 41%
Since then, Oregon has invested heavily in programs to address, in particular, the youth suicide crisis in their state. Though they have made some progress decreasing youth suicide rates, as of 2020 they still had the 13th highest suicide rate overall Oregon suicide rates decline, but still remain above national average - KTVZ
In Canada, data shows a 4.1% increase in medically-assisted suicides since MAiD (Medical Aid In Dying) was legalized … and this March, legislation is slated to expand beyond terminally-ill patients to those with mental health illnesses
Number of assisted deaths jumped more than 30 per cent in 2022, report says | CBC News
An average of 12 people die of suicide every day in Canada https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/suicide-canada-key-statistics-infographic.html
Since the first physician-assisted suicide bill was passed, PAS legislation has been described in terms that range from “death with dignity” to “medical aid in dying” to, most recently in NH with HB-1283, “End of Life Options.” This message framing, by both the media and society in general, is intended to make the notion of suicide more socially acceptable and reduce the stigma around suicide deaths.
The media, as we know, can be influential in shaping public perception on many issues. In recent years, the media has attempted to normalize, and even glamorize suicide, with coverage of stories like the one of Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old diagnosed with a brain tumor, who moved to Oregon in order to use physician-suicide in 2014. Brittany Maynard Terminally Ill Woman Who Planned Assisted Suicide Dies | TIME
Suicide – in any form -- is not a concept NH should be promoting, as it pours millions of dollars of resources into suicide prevention campaigns and creates task forces to reduce suicide. As we consider the impact of passing an assisted suicide law on suicide rates in New Hampshire, we need to consider how:
Saying “suicide is OK in certain circumstances” could negatively impact overall suicide rates
Passing assisted suicide laws can lead to the expansion of those laws – and the detrimental effect that could have on populations vulnerable to suicide.
For more information on suicide prevention and the physician-assisted suicide issue, visit: Take Action — NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention (zerosuicidesnh.org)
For more information about the NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention and its suicide prevention efforts, visit: About The NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention — NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention (zerosuicidesnh.org)