Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 3 October 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying

Assisted Dying in the United States: Discussion

Photo of Rónán MullenRónán Mullen (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank those presenting to us. I also thank Sinéad Fitzpatrick, our legal adviser, for her work in this area and her very helpful documentation.

Oregon, to a great degree, is presented as kind of the limited model that one might safely aim for. The background in the United States is that the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in two cases that there is no constitutional right to assisted dying and states can lawfully prohibit it. Dr. Komrad mentioned that although it is allowed in 11 jurisdictions, there have been 270 failed attempts to legislate for it and nine states passed inoculatory laws to prevent it being passed. Could Dr. Komrad briefly tell us why there is that overwhelming rejection of assisted suicide?