Vermont Faces Emotional Debate Over "Death With Dignity" Bill

Supporters call it "Death With Dignity" and opponents call it "Physician-Assisted Suicide." For both sides, the debate over whether physicians should be able to help people die is emotional and contentious. And new legislation introduced last month in the Vermont House is bringing the issue back to the forefront. Already dvocacy organizations on both sides are coming out in force. Dr. Diana Barnard is a physician who for the past year and a half been has been practicing strictly home-based palliative care. She is also on the board of Patient Choices Vermont, which supports the legislation. And Ed Paquin is the President of the Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights, which is opposed to the bill. They have opposing views on how issues including personal choice, ethics, and a physician's role relate to the question of whether doctors should be legally allowed to help patients die.