EARLIER THIS YEAR, Ohio lawmakers introduced legislation that would legalize physician-assisted suicide, allowing certain adults with a terminal illness to obtain medication to intentionally end their lives. Supporters often refer to the proposal as “medical aid in dying,” emphasizing compassion and the desire to relieve suffering.
At first glance, the proposal can seem compelling. Many of us have watched a loved one endure the pain and uncertainty of a terminal illness. We naturally want to spare people unnecessary suffering. If someone is dying from an incurable disease, isn’t helping them end their suffering an act of mercy?
This is a deeply human question, and it deserves a thoughtful, compassionate answer. The Catholic Church’s opposition to assisted suicide is not rooted in a lack of compassion, but in a conviction that authentic compassion never intentionally ends a human life. Instead, it calls us to accompany those who are suffering, ensuring they are never abandoned or made to feel that their lives have lost their value.
Of course, one should not use religious reasoning to argue against legislation. The first argument against this would always be that “one should not be compelled to act against their own personal beliefs.” Last March, I wrote AN ARTICLE AGAINST ASSISTED SUICIDE, focusing on the increase in other suicides that always accompanies its legalization. Another practical concern surrounding assisted suicide is that these laws cannot protect those who are most vulnerable. Many people living with disabilities have voiced opposition to assisted suicide because they understand how easily society can send the message that dependence diminishes dignity. Others facing terminal illness may not truly want to die; rather, they simply fear becoming a burden to their spouses, children, or caregivers. Recent systematic reviews (HERE and HERE) of patients requesting assisted death have found that these decisions are not primarily based on physical pain, if at all. Researchers more commonly identify a complex combination of factors—including fear of losing independence, concerns about becoming a burden to loved ones, loss of dignity, and social isolation—that often contribute to a person’s desire to hasten death. These findings remind us that the answer to suffering is not just better pain management, but primarily compassionate relationships, practical support, and the reassurance that every person’s life retains its dignity and worth
Legalizing assisted suicide also risks changing how society responds to suffering. When ending life becomes an accepted “treatment option,” there is less incentive to invest in high-quality hospice care, palliative medicine, caregiver support, and mental health services. Rather than asking, “How can we better care for this person?” we begin asking, “Why isn’t this person choosing to die?” That subtle shift has profound consequences for the elderly, people with disabilities, and anyone who feels isolated or unwanted.
The Ohio Catholic Conference has consistently opposed physician-assisted suicide while advocating for policies that uphold the dignity of every human life. This year, the Conference expressed support for House Bill 72 and Senate Bill 134, legislation that would prohibit state funding for assisted suicide, abortion, and capital punishment. While these issues are different in many respects, each reflects the same underlying principle: every human life possesses an inherent dignity that should be protected from conception until natural death.
At the same time, Catholics should acknowledge an uncomfortable truth: we can do better. Too many families caring for loved ones with terminal illnesses feel overwhelmed. Too many caregivers experience exhaustion and isolation. Too many people living with serious illness struggle to access quality palliative care, mental health services, and practical support. If we truly want fewer people to see death as their best option, our response cannot simply be to oppose assisted suicide. We must ensure that no one feels abandoned, burdensome, or without hope. That means expanding access to excellent palliative care and hospice, supporting family caregivers, addressing loneliness and depression, and building communities where every person knows they are loved and their life remains a gift
Our response to suffering should never be to eliminate the person who suffers. Instead, we are called to be present—to sit beside hospital beds, to support caregivers, to improve hospice and palliative care, and to remind every person that their life remains precious, even in its most fragile moments. True compassion does not hasten death. It walks with those who suffer, affirming through both our words and our actions that no one is ever beyond the reach of God’s love or beyond the care of their brothers and sisters.