On Jan. 4, in Vermont, Lynda Bluestein somehow had the courage to swallow drugs that would kill her. The point was to die while she could still swallow and before the vagaries of cancer left her a morphine vegetable. She freely chose a quiet death, but word of her death, I hope, will be anything but quiet.
She and I crossed activist paths when I and other SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) survivors tried to convince the CT Legislature to remove barriers to civil suits by victims of childhood sexual abuse. Year after year, SNAP’s efforts fail, as did Lynda’s effort to establish the right to medical aid in dying (MAID).
Neither bill was voted down. Instead, there was no vote at all. Each proposed bill was first approved by separate committees, but each was then “disappeared” by Rep. Steve Stafstrom using his power as co-chair of the Judiciary Committee.
A fitting tribute to Lynda would be for citizens to pressure their legislators to pressure Mr. Stafstrom to allow the MAID bill a fighting chance. He admits that his Catholic faith influences his decisions on MAID. I think that might be the tip of the iceberg.
Connecticut citizens who receive a medical death sentence should not have the Catholic Church making their end-of-life decisions. To honor Lynda, may the fight now intensify.
WhiteWifeChicago1968.blog 