The following is the written testimony submitted to the House Human Services Committee, and given in person by Lynne Cleveland Vitzthum of the Vermont Center for Independent Living. Kudos to Vitzthum for staying on message through repeated attempts by Committee Chair Anne Pugh to insist that disabled people are not vulnerable under this law. This testimony and … [Read more...] about Testimony Began Today in Vermont House Human Services Committee: Is Act 39 Working?
Vermont Legislature
Roll call of Senate Vote
We want to thank all who stood strong and fought hard for Repeal of this disgraceful law. You have our admiration for standing up to protect patient’s rights to life and freedom from abuse, errors and outright coercion. The Amendment to Repeal Act 39 entirely was sponsored by Senator Norm McAllister, who made an emotional and powerful speech on the Senate floor. The Repeal … [Read more...] about Roll call of Senate Vote
Urgent! Call your Senators today!
We need you to take URGENT action! Act 39 is expected to get a vote on the Senate floor at 1 pm Thursday (2/26). And the vote will be very close! We need you to call your Senators at the Statehouse today (Wednesday, 2/25) or early morning Thursday. So there is no time to wait! The Pro-Suicide groups have already started their calls, and we need to make calls to show that … [Read more...] about Urgent! Call your Senators today!
Our Tax Dollars at Work: Prettifying Suicide and Ignoring the Vulnerable
The Vermont Senate Health and Welfare Committee heard testimony on Wednesday on Act 39. The two questions being examined: “Is Act 39 working?” and “Should the sunset provisions in Act 39 be repealed?” Testimony was heard from a dozen people, nearly all of whom acknowledged that there are problems with the law, including the lack of documentation required, and the scarcity of … [Read more...] about Our Tax Dollars at Work: Prettifying Suicide and Ignoring the Vulnerable
A Deep and Tragic Irony: In VT Lawmakers Praise Suicide Prevention Efforts While Legally Enabling Suicide
The following resolution praising the state's suicide prevention workers was presented today in the VT House: http://legislature.vermont.gov/assets/Documents/2016/Docs/RESOLUTN/HCR039/HCR039%20As%20Introduced.pdf. Among the choice quotes: "...suicide is a public health issue that affects individuals and families of all ages, socio--economic strata, ethnicities, and … [Read more...] about A Deep and Tragic Irony: In VT Lawmakers Praise Suicide Prevention Efforts While Legally Enabling Suicide