New death with dignity law in Florida

ORLANDO, Florida. – Ellen Gilland, 76, shot and killed her husband in a hospital bed last Saturday, Daytona Beach police said.

According to the police, he was terminally ill and she and her husband planned to kill him.

She is now charged with first-degree murder.

[TRENDING: ‘Terrifying video’ shows robbery of Amazon delivery driver| Bill to penalize left-lane drivers | Death investigation shuts down I-4 in Orlando | Become a News 6 Insider]

When News 6 published this story online, many readers supported Gilland because she said she was fulfilling her husband’s wish.

There are several states where death care is legal. Florida is not alone.

But there is a new push to pass a “death with dignity” law in Florida.

Gilland told police that her husband asked her to do so.

This is the request of Peg Sandin’s husband also addressed to her.

“I have seen this desperate situation before. I experienced it myself,” Sandin said.

Sandeen’s husband John was diagnosed with HIV in 1989 when the prognosis was grim and the suffering acute.

“He asked me to kill him,” Sandin told News 6.

She posted about her husband asking her to help him die on Huffpost.com.

“I was in shock,” Sandin said.

“In my mindset at the time. It was murder, right? she said. “But he was suffering, and I wanted his suffering to end. His doctor couldn’t do anything about it. His nurses couldn’t do anything about it. And so it seemed like unnecessary suffering.”

Sandin says she couldn’t help her husband, but the experience led her to Death with Dignity, a non-profit organization dedicated to end-of-life human rights advocacy and political reform. Sandin is now CEO.

In 1997, the Oregon Death with Honors Act went into effect, and since then, 9 other states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws to do so.

During the 21st-22nd Legislative Session, death care bills were introduced in 12 more states.

“If you think of us as a movement for social justice for the terminally ill, then we are very young. We are only 30 years old,” Sandin said.

In states where it is legal, eligible patients can ask their doctor for a prescription for a lethal dose of drugs, allowing the patient to decide when they will die.

In 2020, former Florida Senator Kevin Rader introduced Bill 1800 “Death with Dignity” to the Senate.

“The bill didn’t go anywhere,” Rader said. “He didn’t have a committee meeting. Upon arrival, he was practically dead,” Rader said.

Rader says the bill mirrored the Oregon bill and set out requirements for “a person who can request medication for the purpose of killing himself in a humane and dignified manner.”

The bill required you to be an 18-year-old resident of Florida, have been clinically diagnosed with a terminal condition by two physicians, and be competent to make an informed decision.

Although it didn’t get legislative support, Rader says it sparked controversy.

“I had a lot of press and a lot of people calling me and thanking me for filing the bill,” Rader said.

In November 2020, a Brevard County man began Florida death with dignity.

The organization says it now has Senate support for the proposed Florida End-of-Life Options Act, but Sandin says it probably won’t happen quickly.

“I am so excited about the work they are doing in Florida to get this legislation passed. It may take some time, but I think we will definitely see progress,” Sandin said.

Sandin says other states have taken 10 to 15 years to pass the law.

The laws also require a person to have a life expectancy of 6 months and be able to take medication on their own.

Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily:

Copyright 2023 WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.

Content Source

Dallas Press News – Latest News:
Dallas Local News || Fort Worth Local News | Texas State News || Crime and Safety News || National news || Business News || Health News