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THE LIBERTY TRIBUNE

High Health Costs Ignite Efforts To Legalize Assisted Suicide

Updated: 9/24/2025

assisted suicidehealthcareethicslegislation

What it is

When Stephanie Packer, a terminally ill mother of four, contacted her insurance to confirm coverage for her treatment plans, she was shocked to learn they were refusing to pay. Instead, for less than the cost of a Snickers bar, she could choose to end her life.

Why it matters

  • Instead, for less than the cost of a Snickers bar, she could choose to end her life
  • Currently, MAID laws in 11 states require patients to be terminally ill with six months left to live
  • Thaddeus Pope, a bioethicist and law professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, supports expanding MAID applications beyond terminal illness
  • Matt Vallière, executive director of the Patients Rights Action Fund, expressed concern that current laws could allow individuals with eating disorders to access lethal drugs
  • Callister raised concerns about potential abuse of the law, suggesting that vulnerable individuals could be coerced into taking lethal medication

Key facts

Timeline & recent coverage

  • See related posts on our site; this explainer updates when new reporting appears
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Primary sources

Further reading & references

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