“Make no mistake. Assisted suicide is a cost-saving measure for insurance companies concerned only with their bottom line. The threat posed to vulnerable populations cannot be overstated,” stated RLM President.
LANSING, MI – Today, Right to Life of Michigan (RLM) hosted its 45th Annual Legislative Day in Lansing, steps from the state Capitol. This year’s event boasted a sold-out audience of more than 320 attendees from across the state. Attendees heard from internationally renowned author and speaker, Wesley Smith, regarding efforts to protect vulnerable populations against the threat of physician-assisted suicide. Small groups assembled over lunch for citizen-lobbying efforts with state legislators.
“Today’s event showcased the democratic process in action. The gathering provided voters from all corners of the state with the opportunity to engage their elected representatives on issues of importance to them. On the top of the agenda was opposing the dangerous Death with Dignity Act. This package of bills presents an immediate threat to vulnerable populations in our state, including the sick, the elderly, those with disabilities and minority populations already experiencing health care disparities,” stated Amber Roseboom, President, Right to Life of Michigan.
Roseboom continued, “Make no mistake. Assisted suicide is a cost-saving measure for insurance companies concerned only with their bottom line. The threat posed to vulnerable populations cannot be overstated. We are committed to stand shoulder to shoulder with those threatened by these dangerous bills.”
The RLM legislative team led the morning with a briefing on the Death with Dignity Act, a package of Senate Bills (SB 678-681) that were introduced in the State Senate last fall. If passed, the bills would allow doctors to prescribe a lethal dose of drugs to patients who have received a terminal prognosis for the purpose of suicide. Wesley Smith then shared new developments and his insights on defending against physician-assisted suicide.
Lawyer and award-winning author, Wesley J. Smith, is the host of the Humanize podcast and Chair of the Discovery Institute’s Center on Human Exceptionalism. In 2004, he was named one of the nation’s premier experts in bioengineering by the National Journal. In 2008, the Human Life Foundation named him a Great Defender of Life for his work against assisted suicide and euthanasia. Smith’s book, “Forced Exit: Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide and the New Duty to Die,” has become a classic in anti-euthanasia advocacy. He has published hundreds of articles and appeared on thousands of TV and radio programs across the U.S. and internationally. Smith is often called upon by members of the legislative and executive branches of government to advise on issues within his fields of expertise.
Right to Life of Michigan is in strong opposition to the Death with Dignity bills in the State Senate and will continue to take action against any effort to advance them in the legislature.
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Right to Life of Michigan (RLM) is the state’s oldest and largest non-profit organization dedicated to advocating a choice for life for the youngest and oldest members of our human family. Since our founding in 1972, we have remained steadfast in our mission to educate the public on life issues, support legal protections for women’s health, the elderly, disabled and unborn children and support prolife candidates. RLM has 80 affiliates across the state and more than 282,550 members. The organization achieved 172 electoral victories in 2022 alone. With more than 50 life-affirming protections passed into law, RLM estimates more than 269,633 lives have been saved by just one legal protection. For more information, visit RTL.org.
For more information:
Grace O’Brien, Media Relations & Digital Director, (248) 946-2929, gobrien@rtl.org.