Humane Pritzker will sign ‘right to die’ legislation in spite of Chicago Tribune editorial against

 Humane Pritzker will sign ‘right to die’ legislation in spite of Chicago Tribune editorial against

The Trib’s editorial ‘Pritzker should veto ‘right to die’ bill’ used 700 words to offer nothing of substance promoting that veto.

First concern that the barriers for assisted suicide will be softened offered no evidence other than California reducing the requirement for a second request from 15 days to 2 days. No evidence was offered that the change caused a single, unnecessary assisted suicide there.

Second concern regarding persons with disabilities offered not an iota of substance against assisted suicide. The Trib simply shares the concern “whether some in the medical community have an inherent bias against their (disabled) constituency.”

Third concern is preposterous. Stating its ‘troubling…that so many seriously ill people may pursue such a path (assisted suicide) or fear of becoming a financial burden on their family” is quite a stretch. "May pursue such a path" is simply conjecture to oppose a humane bill to alleviate enormous end of life suffering.

Fourth concern is just a rehash of first concern that assisted suicide may (again) become easier and more frequent. The Trib looks north to the more humane country of Canada where a whopping, according to the Trib, 1 in 20 deaths in now by that humane alterative to end of life suffering. Oh, the horrors up north.

Before ending with another Pritzker veto plea, the Trib states “Compassion should guide end-of-life policy.” What Trib readers deserve is a little less fear mongering and a tad more compassion.

Walt Zlotow, Glen Ellyn