Maine legislators examine state end-of-life laws
When a doctor told her that allowing her terminallyill father to starve to death would be “kinder,” Rep. Carol Grosedecided to take action.
In the end, removing 69-year-old JohnnyDavis’ feeding tube and watching him die a few days later was the mostmerciful action she and her family legally could take, she said. Nobetter options existed at the time.
But lawmakers can change that, Grose said Thursday.
“Iprayed that he would die, because I didn’t like seeing him lay there,day after day, hurting. That is not the way dad would have wanted tolive,” Grose, D-Woolwich, told members of the Judiciary Committee. “Iam asking that you please help me help others in Maine die peacefully,not in pain.”
Grose’s “Dad’s Bill” would call for improvedpain-management education and for installation of a pain-managementclinic in every medical institution. She also wants the creation of apanel to oversee the administration of pain management and educate thepublic on end-of-life issues.