<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Please READ! Deb<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> ELLEN EDGERLY <ellenedge@comcast.net><br><b>Date:</b> February 1, 2024 at 12:19:17 PM EST<br><b>To:</b> Ellen@bianh.org<br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Advocacy Matters Newsletter Alert - Public Hearing on HB 1283, AN ACT relative to end of life options</b><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">
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<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; color: blue;">Advocacy Matters Newsletter </span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; color: blue;">Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire</span></strong></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; color: blue;">January 31, 2024</span></strong></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; color: blue;">Public Hearing HB 1283 - AN ACT relative to end of life options</span></u></strong></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">HB 1283, </span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">legalizes physician-assisted suicides. The Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire(BIANH), an organization that supports individuals with brain injuries and family members, oppose this bill.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; color: blue;">Date of Public Hearing:</span></u></strong><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; color: black;"> </span><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; color: black;">Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 10:00 am, Room 210-211</span></strong></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; color: blue;">Why Is BIANH In Opposition To This Bill</span></u></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; color: blue;">?</span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; color: blue;"> </span></strong></p>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">HB 1283 is an attempt to normalize suicide and it has scary consequences for people with disabilities, people living with chronic conditions like brain injuries, veterans, the elderly and others prone to suicide. </span></strong></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">If this bill passes, there is great potential for abuse and coercion. Vulnerable individuals, including those with chronic illness or disabilities, will likely encounter undue pressure to choose death.</span></strong></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">Suicide prevention continues to be a critical issue for the brain injury community. It is still the #1 cause of TBI fatality – surpassing falls and motor vehicle crashes. HB 1283 impedes the progress towards the goal of zero suicides in NH.</span></strong></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">Legalizing assisted suicide creates a slippery slope that jeopardizes the lives of those who cannot easily articulate their views. </span></strong></li>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; color: blue;">Steve Wade, Executive Director, Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire Op-Ed, 01/26/24</span></u></strong></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">Assisted Suicide Opens the Wrong Door</span></strong></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Today the Granite State finds itself at a crossroads with the introduction of House Bill 1283, new legislation that seeks to legalize physician-assisted suicide (PAS). The bill effectively gives physicians permission to prescribe drugs that result in patient suicide. We have serious concerns about the bill’s potential impact on New Hampshire’s at-risk population if this bill passes. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Undermines suicide prevention efforts and normalizes suicide: New Hampshire has seen a nearly 50% increase in suicide rates over the past decade. Rather than addressing this with compassion and enhanced prevention efforts, HB 1283 takes us in the wrong direction by normalizing suicide as an acceptable medical option. It sends a message that suicide can be a legitimate treatment choice, contradicting the very core of our efforts to prevent suicide.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Opens the door to expanding assisted suicide to other vulnerable populations:</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">In other states nearly every assisted suicide law has been expanded by reducing or eliminating the waiting periods, allowing non-doctors to participate in assisted suicide, allowing assisted suicide approvals by telehealth, expanding the meaning of terminal illness, and removing the state residency requirement.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Devalues Lives of People with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses: House Bill 1283 raises significant ethical questions about the value we place on the lives of individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses. By endorsing PAS, we risk sending a message that some lives are not worth living. Instead of offering support and compassion through palliative care and other essential services, this bill proposes a dangerous alternative that devalues the inherent worth of those facing health challenges.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">In contrast to the well-established principles of the medical profession, House Bill 1283, if passed, would turn physicians into enablers of suicide, undermining the sacred trust within the doctor-patient relationship. It will degrade public trust in healthcare, which has already fallen during the pandemic.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We cannot not ignore the recent legislative strides made in New Hampshire to bolster suicide prevention efforts. Instead of offering death through laws like HB 1283, let us continue to work toward build a “help-seeking” culture, that offers support and care for those most vulnerable and at-risk for suicide.</span><s style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </s></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Steven Wade, Concord, NH</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">On behalf of the NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; color: blue;">NEXT STEPS</span></u></strong></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OUR ORGANIZATION is opposing </span><strong style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">HB1283, End of Life Options (aka physician-assisted suicide</strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">). We have multiple concerns about the negative impact this legislation could have on populations vulnerable to suicide if it passes. For more background on the issue, visit: </span><a style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" href="https://zerosuicidesnh.org/take-action">Take Action — NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention (zerosuicidesnh.org)</a></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">The first House Judiciary hearing will be held on Wed. Feb. 7th at 10:00 am. at Legislative Office Building 210-211. You can help by</span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">: </span></p>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">Signing The “Count Us In” Pledge</span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">: Multiple organizations have signed <u>a pledge that includes opposing HB 1283 – End-of-Life Options</u>, They include: ABLE NH; Brain Injury Association of NH; Catholic Medical Center; Diocese of Manchester; MOAA (Military Officers Association of America/NH Chapter); Mount Royal Academy Students; New Hampshire Hospital Association, Not Dead Yet; Patients Rights Action Fund; UNH Students for Life and the United Spinal Association.</span></li>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">To add your name and/or organization to the Count Us In Pledge, click <a href="https://zerosuicidesnh.org/take-action">HERE</a> and scroll down to the Pledge in the lower part of the page. Then fill out the contact form and submit it. </span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"> Upon receipt, we will review the application and add you to the Pledge.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; color: #0000ff;"><strong><u><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">If you are unable to Attend the Public Hearing</span></u></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; color: #0000ff;"><strong><u><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;"> on HB 1283, </span></u></strong></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; color: #0000ff;"><strong><u><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">You Can Sign In Online in Opposition on </span></u></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; color: #0000ff;"><strong><u><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">the General Court Website</span></u></strong></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><u><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">Opposing House Bill 1283 Online</span></u></strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">: To express your opposition to this bill, you can register without speaking at the hearing. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Follow these steps using the calendar sign-in form on the General Court </span><a style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" href="https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx"><strong>Website</strong></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">:</span></p>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">Enter your name and contact information.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">Click on the date of the bill hearing: <strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">Feb 07, 2024 at 10am</span></strong></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">In the drop-down menu, choose the committee and the specific bill: <strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">House Judiciary</span></strong> and <strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">HB 1283</span></strong></span><br><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">Specify the category that best describes you (elected official, lobbyist, agency staff, member of the public, etc.).</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">Indicate that <strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">you oppose the bill</span></strong> by checking the appropriate circle.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">Note: You can add your own testimony by typing in text or by uploading a PDF.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">Click "Continue."</span></strong></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">Review the provided information, check the box if correct, and <em><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">submit</span></em>.</span></li>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">If you would like to testify at the hearing on Feb. 7<sup>th</sup> at 10 a.m., please advise </span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">Robin Schell, NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention Project Manager, at <a href="mailto:rschell@jjwpr.com">rschell@jjwpr.com</a> or Teresa Rosenberger at <a href="mailto:trosenberger@bernsteinshur.com">trosenberger@bernsteinshur.com</a>. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you!</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you have any questions, regarding HB 1283, please contact Ellen at </span><a style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" href="mailto:Ellen@bianh.org">Ellen@bianh.org</a></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take care,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">Ellen</span></strong></em></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">Ellen M. Edgerly, Community Organizer</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; color: blue;">Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire </span></strong></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">Office: 603.834.9570</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif;">Email: <a href="mailto:Ellen@bianh.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ellen@bianh.org</a></span></p>
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