Why Veterans Should Oppose HB 1283 – Take A Look At Canada

As of 2022, 88,297 veterans were living in NH – that’s 7.7% of the adult civilian population. Veteran rates of suicide, substance misuse, depression and anxiety are significantly higher than the rates for non-veterans. 

According to the VA, in 2020 NH’s veteran suicide rate was 36 per 100,000 -- “significantly higher” than the national veteran suicide rate of 31.7.

If we know our veterans are in need of support, why would we ever present physician-assisted suicide as a solution to their problems?  

Proponents of HB1283 say End-of-Life Options has “safeguards'' and only applies to those diagnosed with a terminal illness.  Those safeguards can change quickly, as legislation expands – if you don’t believe us, just look at what happened in Canada.

In July of 2023 in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ordered an investigation into Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) when multiple veterans reported they had been offered Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) as an alternative to medical care.

Retired corporal Christine Gauthier, who is paraplegic, told the House of Commons standing committee on veterans affairs that the topic of assisted dying was raised during a years-long fight for a home wheelchair lift.

“I was approached with MAiD,” Gauthier testified. The VAC representative she spoke with said, “‘Madam, if you are really so desperate, we can give you medical assistance in dying now.'”  Gauthier said she was shocked that she was being offered an injection to help her die but not tools to help her live.  Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay confirmed through a department investigation that there were multiple cases where MAiD had been offered to a veteran.

According to Scott Maxwell, Executive Director of Wounded Warriors Canada, the media spotlight on this issue prompted calls from veterans who admitted they were afraid to contact VAC to get the services and benefits they have earned. 

Bruce Moncur, the founder of the Afghanistan Veterans Association, testified on the frustration soldiers have with navigating Veterans Affairs – eventually they lose hope and think about taking their own lives.  “It’s the ‘triple-D policy – delay, deny, die – and dead veterans cost no money.”

Let’s stand up for our veterans and help them live, not help them die because it financially benefits the state.  Let’s not open the door, even a crack, to put vulnerable populations – including our veterans – at risk.