We Cannot Put New Hampshire’s Most Vulnerable at Risk
New Hampshire’s business community has long prioritized workforce health, employee well-being, and the overall economic strength of our state. These priorities depend on a strong healthcare system that protects all Granite Staters—especially the most vulnerable among us. Unfortunately, House Bill 254, which seeks to legalize Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) by physician assisted suicide, presents serious risks for veterans, individuals with brain injuries, and those facing mental health challenges.
The advocates for MAID say it’s not suicide so it will have no impact on suicide prevention efforts. However, their opinion on this matter is highly suspect. They are far from objective about this, since they are the ones that are promoting assisted suicide. Medical aid in dying meets every independent and objective definition of suicide. The American Medical Association has consistently affirmed that medical aid in dying is suicide.
A Dangerous Path for Those Who Have Sacrificed the Most
New Hampshire is home to thousands of veterans, many of whom live with traumatic brain injury -TBI, PTSD, or other mental health struggles. The tragic reality is that veterans already face alarmingly high suicide rates. It is an epidemic we have spent years trying to combat through mental health resources, crisis intervention, and community support.
If HB 254 becomes law, it would send the message to veterans and others vulnerable to suicide that suicide, when framed as a “medical choice,” is an acceptable solution to suffering. This is not compassion—it is a policy failure with life-and-death consequences.
Individuals with Brain Injuries and Disabilities at High Risk
As someone familiar with the challenges of brain injuries and neurodegenerative conditions, I am gravely concerned about the implications for individuals with any type of disability.
Brain injuries often affect decision-making capacity, emotional regulation, and resilience. Those living with traumatic brain injuries (TBI), strokes, or degenerative conditions like ALS are particularly vulnerable to coercion, depression, and external pressures—especially if they fear becoming a burden to their families.
Legalizing MAID normalizes the idea that some lives are not worth living, reinforcing dangerous stereotypes about disability, aging, and chronic illness. Instead of expanding options for ending life, we should focus on expanding access to palliative care, mental health services, and supportive resources for long-term care.
A Business and Economic Perspective
Beyond the moral and ethical concerns, HB 254 raises serious economic and workforce issues. As New Hampshire businesses struggle with worker shortages, rising healthcare costs, and an aging population, we cannot afford to introduce policies that could discourage investment in long-term healthcare solutions.
If passed, HB 254 could disincentivize investment in palliative care, rehabilitation programs, and mental health services, shifting the focus toward cost-saving measures that promote death over treatment. In an era where workforce retention and employee health are top priorities for employers, this is the wrong approach for New Hampshire.
We Must Protect, Not Abandon, the Vulnerable
New Hampshire prides itself on community, resilience, and care for those who have served, sacrificed, and struggled. Instead of opening the door to MAiD, we should be investing in the programs that truly improve lives:
Expanding palliative and hospice care
Strengthening mental health services for veterans
Ensuring individuals with disabilities receive full access to quality care
Supporting caregivers and reducing economic pressures on families.
HB 254 is a step in the wrong direction. Our veterans living with TBI and PTSD, and all vulnerable Granite Staters deserve better.
Eldon Munson, Jr. Chair Public Policy Committee, Brain Injury Association of NH