Valerie Lovelace, Author at Maine Death with Dignity

Author: Valerie Lovelace

Implementation of the Maine Death with Dignity Act

Posted on October 16, 2019July 19, 2021 by Valerie Lovelace

A recent article by WGME, "Maine's death with dignity law is in effect. Here's how the roll out is going." highlights some of the activities happening to implement Maine's new law. There is still misinformation floating around about whether the law is in effect, and if so, toCONTINUE READING »

MaineHealth on Maine’s new death with dignity law

Posted on October 7, 2019July 19, 2021 by Valerie Lovelace

Announced in Village Soup on September 19, 2019, MaineHealth has decided it will support its patients and care teams in relation to Maine's new law. In a statement published by VillageSoup, MaineHealth said this about the Maine Death with Dignity Act: “MaineHealth has been reviewing the legislation andCONTINUE READING »

Mainers win death with dignity law

Posted on September 19, 2019July 19, 2021 by Valerie Lovelace

We did it. It's finally, finally ours. Opposition to the Maine Death with Dignity Act reported they do not have enough signatures to submit for a veto question. We have changed the course of Maine's history and our dying loved ones may now have the control they desireCONTINUE READING »

Press Release: Mainers with Terminal Illness Gain a Dignified Option for Life’s End

Posted on June 12, 2019October 8, 2022 by Valerie Lovelace

Governor Mills Signing of the Maine Death with Dignity Act Culminates Grassroorts Campaign to Expand End-of-Life Options Maine Death with Dignity applauds Governor Janet Mills for signing the Death with Dignity Act into law today. Valerie Lovelace, Steering Committee Chair said, “With Governor Mills' signature, Maine proudly joinsCONTINUE READING »

Press Release: Maine Death with Dignity Urges Support for LD 1313

Posted on March 27, 2019August 5, 2020 by Valerie Lovelace

Grassroots Group Leads Campaign to Offer Option for Life’s End Augusta, March 22, 2019—Maine Death with Dignity is urging the state legislature to pass LD 1313, an assisted dying bill. The Maine Death with Dignity Act, introduced by Rep. Patricia Hymanson (D-York) with a bipartisan group of co-sponsorsCONTINUE READING »

Cyndie’s Story

Posted on March 21, 2019July 19, 2021 by Valerie Lovelace

Cyndie Rogers is a Maine Death with Dignity volunteer in Gray, Maine. She told this story to the Death with Dignity National Center in January 2019. * Since 2015, I have been living with lymphoma. Just before Thanksgiving last year, I learned I have breast cancer as well.CONTINUE READING »

Chris’s Story: Keeping A Promise

Posted on January 31, 2019July 19, 2021 by Valerie Lovelace

Chris Trider is a retired electrician in Leeds and a Maine Death with Dignity volunteer. He told the Death with Dignity National Center this story in January 2019. * My wife, Karen, passed away from liver cancer in October 2018. When doctors discovered the cancer several months earlier,CONTINUE READING »

Why I Volunteer

Posted on October 11, 2018July 19, 2021 by Valerie Lovelace

by Karen Hinson, volunteer petition circulator, Town of Machias, Maine * I learned death was part of life at an early age. The doctors, nurses, and dentists in my family talked about blood and guts at the dinner table. As a hospice volunteer I later learned of theCONTINUE READING »

Donna Wiegle: “The Choice About How Things Go”

Posted on July 9, 2018July 19, 2021 by Valerie Lovelace

Donna Wiegle is the founder of Eldercare Outreach of Swan's Island. She lives in Swan's Island. She told us this story, which first appeared at Death with Dignity National Center's website, in June 2018. * I survived my first bout with cancer nearly 30 years ago. Then, inCONTINUE READING »

Press Release: Petition Launched for Assisted Dying Ballot Measure

Posted on April 19, 2018July 19, 2021 by Valerie Lovelace

Maine Death with Dignity Leads Effort to Offer Humane Option for Life’s End Augusta, April 19, 2018—Maine Death with Dignity has begun gathering signatures for a petition to place an assisted dying measure on the ballot. The law would allow adult Maine residents who have had two physiciansCONTINUE READING »

Three in Four Mainers Support Death with Dignity Legislation

Posted on April 3, 2018June 7, 2023 by Valerie Lovelace

A year ago today, a poll released by Public Policy Polling showed that nearly 3 of 4 Maine voters overwhelmingly support legislation expanding the right of terminally ill patients with less than six months to live to legally obtain prescription medication to end their lives. The poll shows 73 percentCONTINUE READING »

Press Release: Signature Gathering to Begin for Assisted Dying Ballot Measure

Posted on March 20, 2018June 3, 2020 by Valerie Lovelace

Maine Death with Dignity Leads Effort to Offer Humane Option for Life’s End Augusta, March 20, 2018—A petition by Wiscasset-based Maine Death with Dignity to place an assisted dying measure on the ballot is in the final stage of approval by the Secretary of State’s office. The lawCONTINUE READING »

Eva Thompson (1959-2017): “It should be my choice”

Posted on December 29, 2017June 7, 2023 by Valerie Lovelace

We were deeply saddened to learn of the death today of Reverend Eva Thompson, a steadfast advocate for Death with Dignity legislation in Maine. She was 58 years old. Eva did not live long enough to see the Maine Death with Dignity Act come to fruition. During herCONTINUE READING »

Rebecca Van Wormer (1974-2017): “I want the option to go on my terms”

Posted on October 15, 2017June 7, 2023 by Valerie Lovelace

A resident of East Millinocket, Maine, Rebecca VanWormer told us her story in August 2015. She died in January 2017 . * I’m 43 years old and I’m dying of cancer. My goal is to live as long as I can but when I get to the pointCONTINUE READING »

Dear Maine

Posted on September 28, 2017June 7, 2023 by Valerie Lovelace

I feel such gratitude for the out-pouring of support here in Maine. Many lawmakers, physicians, nurses, clergy, and citizens recognize the need for a Death with Dignity law in our state. In 2015, LD 1270 passed the House but failed in the Senate by a single vote. Recently, itCONTINUE READING »