Should terminally ill North Carolinians be allowed to “die with dignity”?

Orange County’s Department on Aging and UNC’s Partnerships in Aging Program are teaming up to host a discussion panel on the subject Thursday, March 17, from 4-7 pm at the Friday Center.

It’s called “Death with Dignity: What Is It And Where Should North Carolina Be Headed?” The event will feature a keynote by the national death-with-dignity activist Barbara Mancini of the group Compassion & Choices. The panel itself will include state legislators and religious, legal, medical and ethical scholars on both sides of the issue.

What is “death with dignity”? Heavily debated nationwide, “death with dignity” laws allow terminally ill individuals to choose to end their own lives with the assistance of a physician. (It’s also known as “assisted suicide” or “physician-assisted suicide.”) Most states explicitly ban the practice, but four states have legalized it: Washington, Vermont, California, and Oregon. (Oregon was first, in 1997.) North Carolina law doesn’t prohibit the practice, but it doesn’t explicitly allow it either; North Carolina is one of only a few states with no law on the matter at all.

Ed Tiryakian, senior leader volunteer with Orange County’s Project EngAGE, is helping organize the public discussion. He spoke last week with WCHL’s Aaron Keck.

 

Democratic State Rep. Pricey Harrison (who will be in attendance Thursday) has introduced a bill to the General Assembly that’s similar to Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act.

Thursday’s panel is open to the public, but they’re asking attendees to register in advance by March 15. You can get more info and register at this link.