Connect with us

Midwest

Minnesota lawmakers propose controversial medically-assisted suicide bill

Published

on

Minnesota lawmakers propose controversial medically-assisted suicide bill

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.

Minnesota state lawmakers are re-introducing a bill to legalize medically-assisted in dying, which is legal in 10 states and Washington, D.C.

The controversial bill would allow Minnesotans with terminal illnesses to self-administer a prescription medication that would kill them over a period of time — a practice that some argue is an ethical way to end suffering while others argue that it is a dangerous slippery slope for those in a vulnerable mental state.

“I’m proud to carry the Minnesota End-of-Life Options Act once again at the legislature. Over the past several years, I’ve heard countless stories from Minnesotans who want the ability to decide, with their doctors and loved ones, how they spend their final days,” State Rep. Mike Freiberg said during a Thursday press conference, as FOX 9 Minneapolis first reported. “Their message is clear: They want compassion, autonomy and peace at the end of life.”

The Minnesota legislation is modeled on Oregon’s 1997 Death with Dignity Act.

Advertisement

MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS INITIATE DEBATE ON PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL

Minnesota lawmakers are re-introducing the controversial End-of-Life Options Act.  (iStock)

“The person has to be an adult with a terminal illness and a prognosis of six months or less to live. They must be mentally capable of making decisions, and they must be able to self-ingest the medication,” Freiberg said during the Thursday press conference.

The state representative told Fox News Digital in a statement that the bill “is about trusting Minnesotans to make personal medical decisions with their doctors and families.”

“The End-of-Life Options Act has been working safely and compassionately elsewhere for more than 25 years—we can bring that same peace of mind to people in Minnesota,” he said.

Advertisement

Freiberg noted during the press conference that two medical clinicians must be able to confirm the person’s diagnosis and consent, and the person undergoing medically-assisted death must also take a mental health examination. 

LEGALIZED ASSISTED SUICIDE PUSH IN US ALARMS DOCTORS, DISABILITY ADVOCATES: ‘WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE?’

Medically-assisted suicide is legal in 10 states and Washington, D.C. (Thomas Jansen-Lonnquist for The Washington Post )

The legislation is aimed at alleviating suffering for those with terminal, life-altering illnesses that impact physical and mental capability, such as ALS.

Tom Albin, who has ALS, spoke during the Thursday presser, as FOX 9 first reported.

Advertisement

“ALS is cruel. It will eventually trap me in a body that can’t move.”

— Tom Albin

“I am not suicidal, I love my life and the people in it,” Albin said. “With my medical team, I’ve done things to extend my life with a feeding tube and a non-invasive ventilator. But ALS is cruel. It will eventually trap me in a body that can’t move. But I’ll be fully aware of it the whole time. And there’s no escape.”

ASSISTED DEATHS MAY SOON BE A REALITY FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS IN CANADA

Tom Albin, who has ALS, spoke in favor of the Minnesota End-of-Life Options Act on Thursday. (FOX 9)

Gina Schneider, regional campaign and advocacy manager for Compassion & Choices Action Network, told Fox News Digital that the organization is “so grateful for lead sponsor Rep. Mike Freiberg’s dedication to bringing the compassionate option of medical aid in dying to Minnesota by reintroducing the End-of-Life Options Act”

Advertisement

“All Minnesotans deserve a full range of end-of-life care options,” Schneider said. “We hope the legislature will honor the will of 73.2% of Minnesota voters who support this option for terminally ill adults in their final six months or less of life by getting HF 2998 to Governor Walz so he can make it law in 2025.”

The Minnesota Alliance for Ethical Healthcare is taking a different stance, with spokesperson Nancy Utoft highlighting the potential dangers of such legislation in a news release shared with FOX 9.

The Minnesota legislation is modeled on Oregon’s 1997 Death with Dignity Act. (Getty Images)

“Physician-assisted suicide is often framed as a compassionate option, but the reality is that it deepens existing inequities in our healthcare system and places vulnerable individuals—especially those with disabilities, limited financial resources, and communities of color—at greater risk,” Utoft said. “We should be saying yes to better care, not legalizing an option that pressures people into ending their lives prematurely.”

Canada legalized medical assistance in dying (MAID) in 2017, and the nationwide law has prompted arguments about how medically-assisted suicide may prompt those suffering from mental health disorders to end their lives prematurely. 

Advertisement

Minnesota state senators are expected to introduce the bill next. 

Read the full article from Here

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Illinois

Man found dead near Chicago Executive Airport may have been killed in crash: police

Published

on

Man found dead near Chicago Executive Airport may have been killed in crash: police


WHEELING, Ill. (WLS) — North suburban police believe a man found dead near the Chicago Executive Airport viewing area on Sunday morning may have been killed in a crash.

Prospect Heights police said its officers responded to the area of 79 Palatine Frontage Road in Wheeling just after 9 a.m.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

There, officers found a man lying on the ground along the fence. Police said the man, who was unconscious and cold to the touch, was pronounced dead on the scene.

A preliminary investigation indicates that the man may have been hit by a vehicle, police said.

Advertisement

When officers arrived on the scene, there were no witnesses or vehicles that appeared to be connected to the possible crash.

East Palatine Frontage Road at Milwaukee Avenue is closed as police investigate.

No one is in custody. The Prospect Heights Police Department asked anyone with information to call them at 847-398-5511.

Authorities did not immediately provide further information.

Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Indiana

Indiana football to visit White House, Fernando Mendoza may skip

Published

on

Indiana football to visit White House, Fernando Mendoza may skip


The Indiana Hoosiers are on top of the football world and are enjoying the perks that come with being national champions.

One of those spoils involves a trip to the White House to commemorate their achievement later this month, but the most popular player from that team might not be there.

Advertisement

USA TODAY Sports covered the conflicted decision former Hoosiers and current Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza faces about the White House visit.

Advertisement

Mendoza might not attend due to a scheduling issue involving his new team.

“I believe May 11 is the first day of OTAs,” Mendoza said. “If I’m not mistaken, I have the calendar — I mean, I don’t have a calendar, so… If it is on the first day of OTAs, like I said, I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here. I gotta prove myself. I can’t miss practice … I’m a rookie. I don’t think that’s a good look.”



Source link

Continue Reading

Iowa

Ford’s walk-off slam lifts Cyclones in must-win thriller

Published

on

Ford’s walk-off slam lifts Cyclones in must-win thriller


AMES — In a must-win scenario, Iowa State prevailed, battling back and forth with the No. 22 UCF Knights. The Cyclones are sitting in ninth place in the Big 12 standings, right behind Utah. 

Iowa State fell behind 4-0 but scored four in the bottom of the fourth, then took the lead in the fifth, scoring four more. A blown seventh-inning lead led to another chaotic fight to the finish, with the Cyclones coming out on top 13-9. 

“Really proud of the grit, really proud of the way they came back,” head coach Jamie Pinkerton said. 

In the fourth inning, as the Cyclones were getting no-hits up to that point, sophomore catcher Karlee Ford had a change of plans. On a 1-0 count, she roped a solo homer over the left-field wall to start a rally. 

Advertisement

“I always have the same mentality of just putting the ball in play,” Ford said.

Iowa State then scratched across three straight base hits, scoring one in the process, before senior center fielder Tatum Johnson came to the plate. She wouldn’t disappoint, connecting with the first pitch and tripling to left field, tying the game at four.

The fifth inning was more of the same for the Cyclones. Ford came up to the plate with one out and drew her second walk of the game, bringing up senior leader Sydney Malott. Malott had seven hits in 19 at-bats over her last six games, after a 3-for-29 stretch dating back to April 5. 

“I automatically knew Syd [Malott] was going to hit me around,” Ford said.

Malott came through, crushing a two-run home run off the top of the scoreboard in left field, her third homer in her recent stretch. 

Advertisement

“It’s definitely ups and downs, and you have to keep a steady mind,” Malott said. “Just trying to do whatever I can for my team.”

Two more runners would score after sophomore left fielder Jessie Clemons drove them in with a single down the left-field line. 

When it looked like the game would be over in the seventh inning, with the Cyclones up 8-4, the Knights had other plans. 

Junior right-handed pitcher Lauren Schurman came out to the circle to start the seventh, having not allowed a run since the fourth inning after relieving freshman right-handed pitcher Liv Palumbo. 

Pinkerton made a defensive change, moving senior Tiana Poole to right field to replace sophomore Hayleigh Oliver. 

Advertisement

This decision proved costly as, on the first batted ball of the inning, a deep fly ball to right field was misjudged, resulting in a triple.

This started a rally for UCF, as it reached base in six consecutive at-bats on four singles, one walk and one hit batter, scoring four runs to tie the game at 8-8. 

Senior right-handed pitcher Jaiden Ralston came in to relieve Schurman and faced three batters but allowed the go-ahead run to score on a sacrifice fly, giving the Knights a 9-8 lead heading into the bottom half of the inning. 

UCF brought in redshirt sophomore ace right-handed pitcher Isabella Vega, who previously threw a complete game and struck out eight Cyclones in game one. 

After junior pinch hitter Isabelle Nosan recorded the first out of the inning, senior third baseman McKenna Andrews drew a nine-pitch walk. She was out at second on a Clemons fielder’s choice for the second out.

Advertisement

Johnson and senior shortstop Reagan Bartholomew then drew full-count walks, bringing up sophomore second baseman Kadence Shepherd.

Shepherd roped the third pitch of her at-bat through the left side, tying the game at 9-9. 

That brought up Ford, who was 1-for-2 with two walks, including her solo homer that broke up the no-hitter in the fourth inning. 

On a 2-2 count, Ford didn’t miss, crushing a grand slam over the right-center wall.

“Karlee Ford’s been clutch all year,” Pinkerton said. “Huge hit.”

Advertisement

For Malott, the moment reflected the team’s mindset throughout the game.

“We just kept fighting the whole game,” Malott said. “No one ever thought we were out of it.”

The win pushed Iowa State’s conference record to 9-14. Utah sits at 9-13-1 after its win against Arizona.

For the Cyclones to make the tournament, they need to win the season finale against UCF and have Utah lose its finale against Arizona.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending