Peter Shumlin, the Democratic candidate for governor in Vermont against Brian Dubie, wants the practice of assisted suicide legalized.
Alex Schadenberg, the head of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, emailed his organization this afternoon saying he is very concerned about Shumlin’s candidacy.“Many Americans have been concerned about economics or health care when deciding on who to vote for tomorrow in the election, but in Vermont you must also consider whether or not you want assisted suicide to be legalized,” he said.
Shumlin told the lobbying arm of the pro-assisted suicide group Death With Dignity: “As Governor, I will strongly champion death with dignity legislation. I have been a sponsor of this legislation for multiple years and I have a track record of bringing people together to get tough things done.”
“I feel the same about patient choices at the end of life. As Governor, I would make this a top priority and in my State of the State address would ask the legislature to take this civil rights issue up and pass it prior to adjournment in 2011,” he added.
Schadenberg responded to the comment saying Vermont voters need to defeat Shumlin.
“Many people decide how they will vote based on several issues, but in Vermont, voters need to reject Peter Shumlin to reject the legalization of assisted suicide,” he said.
Recent polls have put Dubie behind Shumlin by a few percentage points.
