AUGUSTA (AP) — Groups fighting to give terminally ill people the right to physician assisted suicide in Maine are launching a petition drive to force a statewide referendum on the issue.
The Bangor Daily News reports that Westport Island resident Valerie Lynn Lovelace is spearheading a push to enact the Maine Death with Dignity Act.
The act would allow certain adults to request a prescription for the purpose of ending their lives.
But before a prescription, patients would face a process that includes waiting periods, a series of requests by the patient and a second opinion.
A Republican senator’s physician-assisted suicide bill this year garnered a 16-15 vote of support in the Senate but failed 85-61 in the House.
The Secretary of State’s office says the petition drive is still in an application stage.
The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less