Thursday, March 24, 2016

Testimony in Support of Compassionate Care Act

Testimony in Support of House Bill 7659 - Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act

My name is Tony Houston and I am submitting this testimony on behalf of Humanists of Rhode Island in support of the HB 7659. For decades now, a majority of Americans have supported death with dignity and a majority of physicians also support the right of terminally ill and medically competent patients to choose how and when to end suffering with the assistance of their physicians.

Some may object to this bill on religious grounds, but personal religious beliefs should not set public policy for all Rhode Islanders. Roger Williams warned about such “monstrous partiality.” Others may have ethical concerns about the risks of coercion on vulnerable populations; but HB 7659 includes appropriate safeguards to help ensure that the patient is competent, not being coerced, and that the decision is a voluntary one.

When terminally ill patients are burdened with intolerable pain and suffering, they should know that their right to end their lives safely and on their own terms is protected. It is unconscionable to force terminally ill patients to slowly starve or bleed to death when there are more humane ways to end their suffering. Compassion, reason, and self-determination compel our support for this bill.

Submitted March 24, 2016 by
Tony Houston, Media Chair
Humanists of Rhode Island
108 Fort Ave
Cranston, RI 02905

http://www.humanistsri.com/

Monday, March 21, 2016

Action Alert in Rhode Island! Support the Compassionate Care Act

When terminally ill patients are burdened with intolerable pain and suffering, they should know that their right to end their life safely and on their own terms is protected. It's time to legalize end of life choice in Rhode Island. Urge your representatives to support this legislation.

Action Alert in Rhode Island! Support the Compassionate Care Act

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

How religious is your state?

How religious is your state?: Southern states are among the most highly religious states in the U.S., while those in New England are among the least devout.

Monday, November 16, 2015

An open letter to Gina Raimondo on the Syrian refugees and Paris attacks

November 16, 2015

Humanists of Rhode Island

To:

The Honorable Gina Raimondo,

The recent, horrific attacks in Paris serve to highlight the terrible plight of Syrian refugees. The apparent perpetrators of the Paris atrocities, I am sure you realize, are the same violent people and organizations that the refugees are escaping from. It would serve the attackers' purpose, and make us complicit in their actions, were we to turn away these people in their time of need.

As the governors of llinois, Ohio Indiana, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Michigan, Alabama, Texas and Arkansas give into fear, ignorance and nativism, it is more important than ever for Rhode Island to stay true to its immigrant roots and do all we can to provide shelter, safety and compassion for as many Syrian refugees as we can bear.

We are sure that there are powerful political forces and hundreds of letters, phone calls and emails pouring into the State House demanding that you close our borders to those in the world most in need. We would encourage you to listen to the better angels of our nature and open our hearts, and our borders.

Let’s show the world what it means to be a Rhode Islander, and a decent human being.

Sincerely,

The Humanists of Rhode Island