Dore Bio

Margaret Dore is a fourth generation lawyer in Washington State USA. Her father was a lawyer and a Democratic politician who ultimately served as Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court. Her mother was a politician’s wife and a political activist in her own right, best known for her work to raise awareness about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and also to help affected families and to promote medical research. Growing up, other families went camping. Dore’s family went campaigning.

Press Release Opposing New York Act

To view as sent, click here.

Attorney Margaret Dore, president of Choice is an Illusion, a nonprofit corporation opposed to assisted suicide and euthanasia, made the following statement in connection with the Medical Aid in Dying Act, now pending before the New York State Legislature. (Bills A 2694 and S 3947).

“The Medical Aid in Dying Act is a recipe for elder abuse, financial exploitation and legal murder," said Dore. "Older people with money, meaning the middle class and above, will be especially at risk to their heirs and other financial predators." Dore added, "The poor will also be at risk, but for a different reason.”

Reject Medical Aid in Dying Act (Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia)

By Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA

Click the links to view a pdf version of this document, consisting of a memorandum and appendix.

I. INTRODUCTION 

The proposed bills amend New York’s public health law by  adding a new article (28F), the Medical Aid in Dying Act.[1] The Act is based on similar laws in Oregon and Washington State.[2]

“Aid in Dying” is a euphemism for euthanasia.[3] The Act, however, purports to prohibit euthanasia. On close examination, this prohibition will be unenforceable.

If enacted, the Act will apply to people with years or decades to live. It will also facilitate financial exploitation, especially in the inheritance context. Don’t render yourself or someone you care about a sitting duck to heirs and other predators. I urge you to reject the proposed Act.

Join Us in Albany on January 14th

Event to be live streamed
To link, click here.

     

John Norton: A Cautionary Tale

Hearing Room

By Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA

In March 2012, I watched Massachusetts resident, John Norton, testify before the Joint Judiciary Committee of the Massachusetts Legislature. A person with ALS, he had been told at age 18 or 19 that he would die in three to five years from paralysis. Below find his story, at age 74, as submitted to a Canadian court via this affidavit: 

AFFIDAVIT OF JOHN NORTON IN OPPOSITION TO

ASSISTED SUICIDE AND EUTHANASIA

THE UNDERSIGNED, being first duly sworn on oath, STATES:

1. I live in Florence Massachusetts USA. When I was eighteen years old and in my first year of college, I was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) by the University of Iowa Medical School. ALS is commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. I was told that I would get progressively worse (be paralyzed) and die in three to five years.

2. I was a very physical person. The diagnosis was devastating to me. I had played football in high school and was extremely active riding bicycles. I also performed heavy labor including road construction and farm work. I prided myself for my physical strength, especially in my hands.

3. The ALS diagnosis was confirmed by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota. I was eighteen or nineteen years old at the time. By then, I had twitching in both hands, which were also getting weaker. At some point, I lost the ability to grip in my hands. I became depressed and was treated for my depression. If instead, I had been told that my depression was rational and that I should take an easy way out with a doctor’s prescription and support, I would have taken that opportunity.

ADA Will Trump Euthanasia Prohibition

By Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA

Pending New York bills seek to pass a medical aid in dying act.[1] "Aid in dying" is a euphemism for active euthanasia, meaning the administration of a lethal agent to another person.[2][3]

The act also prohibits euthanasia, stating:

A health care professional or other person shall not administer the medication [lethal dose] to the patient. (Emphasis added).[4]

This prohibition is, however, unenforceable. This is due to the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”).

Assisting Persons Can Have an Agenda

By Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA

Morant

Persons assisting a suicide or euthanasia can have an agenda. Consider Tammy Sawyer, trustee for Thomas Middleton in Oregon. Two days after his death by legal assisted suicide, she sold his home and deposited the proceeds into bank accounts for her own benefit.[1] Consider also Graham Morant, convicted of counseling his wife to kill herself in Australia, to get the life insurance.[2] The Court found:

[Y]ou counselled and aided your wife to kill herself because you wanted ... the 1.4 million.[3]

If New York Follows Oregon, the Proposed Act Will Apply to Young Adults with Diabetes

Dr. Toffler

The Medical Aid in Dying Act (Bills A 2694 and S 3947) applies to individuals with a terminal illness or condition expected to produce death within six months. The Act states:

“Terminal illness or condition” means an incurable and irreversible illness or condition that has been medically confirmed and will, within reasonable medical judgment, produce death within six months. (Emphasis added).[1]

Oregon’s law has a similar criteria, as follows:

Regarding Debate Rematch at Jefferson Ferry Long Island: Dore v. Leven

About Margaret Dore

Dore is a fourth generation lawyer in Washington State USA. Her father was a lawyer and a Democratic politician who ultimately served as Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court. Her mother was a politician’s wife and a political activist in her own right, best known for her work to raise awareness about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and also to help affected families and to promote medical research. Growing up, other families went camping. Dore’s family went campaigning.

Legal Analysis of Bill A. 2383-A by Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA: Reject Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide

I.  INTRODUCTION 

For the original pdf version, click the following links for a memo and appendices.  For "quick facts," click here.

I am a lawyer and president of Choice is an Illusion, a nonprofit corporation opposed to assisted suicide and euthanasia.[1] The bill, A. 2383-A, seeks to legalize “medical aid in dying,” which is a euphemism for active euthanasia and physician assisted suicide.[2] 

The bill is based on similar statutes in Oregon and Washington State. If enacted, the bill will apply to people with years or decades to live. The bill will also create new paths of elder abuse and exploitation, especially for people with money, meaning the middle class and above. 

Other problems will include family trauma and suicide contagion. I urge you to reject this bill.

Margaret Dore Testifies Against New York Bill

Margaret Dore, testifying against Bill A.2383-A, seeking to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia in New York State.

Margaret Dore Testifies Against New York Bill

On May 3, 2018, Margaret Dore, president of Choice is an Illusion, testified before the New York Assembly Health Committee in opposition to Bill A.2383-A, seeking to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia. The bill was based on a similar law in Oregon.

Proponents had sold the bill as limited to assisted suicide, with euthanasia (direct killing) prohibited.  Dore, a practicing attorney, pointed out that the apparent prohibition was gutted by other language in the bill, so that euthanasia was in fact allowed.

Dore also testified that the bill would apply to people with years or decades to live. To illustrate the point, she held up a smiling photo of her friend, Jeanette Hall, talked out of assisted suicide in Oregon eighteen years ago.

On June 21, 2018, the Legislature closed without voting on the bill, effectively killing it.

Click here to watch video.

New York Debate: Thank you Dawn Eskew and Everyone Else Who Came and Contributed

Dawn Eskew

Thank you to Dawn Eskew and everyone else who helped put on yesterday's debate. 

We had a great turnout and Dawn as the moderator, kept everyone in check, including me.

We had a number of people who came a long way, including Alex Shadenberg from Ontario Canada and Kate Menzia from Missoula Montana

It was also very interesting getting feedback from people on the other side.  

This Saturday, Register Now, Seats Limited!

Saturday March 3rd, 2018

Doors Open 12:00pm  | Event 12:30pm

One hour debate followed by 15 minute Q&A

Complimentary Refreshments

Tickets are $10
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/euthanasia-or-aid-in-dying-you-decide-tickets-41520189003

Hofstra University Club, 225 Hofstra Blvd, Hempstead, NY 11550

To print an event flyer Click Here

For more information: 631-487-7578

The ADA: A Gift From the Disability Community to the Non-Disabled, Improving Access for All

http://www.npr.org/2015/07/24/423230927/-a-gift-to-the-non-disabled-at-25-the-ada-improves-access-for-all

"This elevator is a gift from the disability
 community and the ADA to the nondisabled
 people of New York," said civil rights
lawyer,  Sid Wolinsky. 

From NPR's Joseph Shapiro, published last year.

When the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law 25 years ago, "everybody was thinking about the iconic person in a wheelchair," says civil rights lawyer Sid Wolinsky. Or that the ADA — which bans discrimination based on disability — was for someone who is deaf, or blind.

But take a tour of New York City with Wolinsky — and the places he sued there — and you will see how the ADA has helped not just people with those significant disabilities, but also people with minor disabilities, and people with no disability at all.