Michigan Dignified Death Act

The Michigan Dignified Death Act requires physicians to inform terminally ill patients about their right to choose hospice care. Patients with terminal illness have rights and choices under the MDDA. The law also gives immunity to physicians from civil and administrative penalties for prescribing controlled substances.

For a copy of the Michigan Dignified Death Act, call Hospice of Michigan, (888) 466-5656 or the Michigan Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, (517) 886-6667.

Physician-assisted suicide/euthanasia

Physician-assisted suicide is the act of a physician who helps a patient take his or her own life. Euthanasia is the intentional ending of the life of a person who is suffering from an incurable or painful disease.

Hospice of Michigan opposes legalization of physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia. We believe the real issues in this debate center around patients' rights to obtain adequate pain and symptom control, more frequent and earlier referral to comfort care and establishment of a society that views death as part of life, not a failure.

Legislation to permit physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia would inevitably place American society on the "slippery slope" of promoting death for the ill and infirm. We oppose these measures and feel that hospice care offers the comfort and support patients and families are seeking at the end of life.