In the last months of his life, my devoutly Catholic terminally ill father often expressed his desire to “meet his maker.” He wanted to die peacefully with his family and friends around him. After a month long stay in two hospitals he was admitted to hospice. The hospice staff were wonderful, but it took his 93-year-old body 10 days without food or drink to finally give out. This took an incredible toll on his body, as well as our family who had to witness him struggle for 10 long days. And then contrary to what he wished for, he did die alone, as I had gone home to shower and change clothes and friends were not coming until later that morning.

The NH End of Life Options Act, HB 1283, would allow people like my father, mentally competent, terminally diagnosed with less than six months to live, to die peacefully in their sleep. The bill has strong safeguards. Vermont and Maine along with eight other states, provide this right and have not had any issues. Polling shows that a majority of NH Catholics support this legislation. Some of my fellow Catholics may express moral issues, but this bill does not impose on your beliefs, and others should be free to follow theirs.

Marc Lacroix

Concord