Hybrid service (In-person at Mano a Mano or on Zoom)  

Speakers: Rev. Harlan Limpert and Tara Guy

Moderator: Alan Lando

Ten states and the District of Columbia currently authorize medical aid in dying as an option for terminally ill adults. Medical aid in dying is a specific clinical practice in which a terminally ill adult of sound mind may request a prescription medication from their physician which they may self-ingest to control the time and manner of an inevitable death. Oregon was the first state to authorize its Death with Dignity Act in 1997 and Unitarian Universalists led the way. In fact, the UUA is the only denomination that actively supports medical aid in dying as an end-of-life option. 

This presentation provides an overview of medical aid in dying and the proposed Minnesota End-of-Life Option Act, including clinical criteria and findings from 24 years of experience in Oregon. We’ll discuss medical aid in dying in the context of the UUA spiritual tradition and as our legacy.

Rev. Harlan Limpert retired after serving 30 years as COO of the Unitarian Universalist Association. He is co-founder of the Interfaith Clergy for End-of-Life Options, an initiative of Compassion & Choices comprised of spiritual leaders united in support of a full range of end-of-life options, including medical aid in dying. Its mission is to promote understanding and acceptance of diverse spiritual beliefs related to end-of-life decision

Tara Guy volunteers for Compassion & Choices, sharing stories about her friend Doris and the terminally ill advocates she has come to know and lost during her many years of advocacy. She is shown in the photo with Doris who died from a painful disease without the benefit of choice. Compassion & Choices is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization committed to improving care and expanding choices at the end of life. They work to empower individuals to make end-of-life decisions that are best for them and their families, and consistent with their personal values and priorities.