ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland supporters of allowing terminally ill residents to legally end their lives with drugs prescribed by a doctor are reintroducing legislation this year.
Supporters said Thursday the measure would allow mentally capable, terminally ill patients with less than six months to live to obtain prescription drugs they could ingest themselves, if their suffering becomes unbearable.
Del. Shane Pendergrass, a Howard County Democrat who is sponsoring the bill, says the choice would be up to the individual, who would self-administer the drug.
Cristine Marchand is executive director of The Arc Maryland, a statewide advocacy organization for people with developmental disabilities. She says the group opposes the bill, because the developmentally disabled often feel like they are a burden and are vulnerable to coercion to please family or authority figures.
