Martin Sheen Opposes Legalization of Assisted Suicide in Washington

With so much focus on the presidential and other races, not much is being said publicly about I 1000, a ballot measure in the state of Washington to legalize assisted suicide. This ballot measure is immense, as proponents of assisted suicide view a victory in Washington as the stepping stone to success in other parts of the country.

Enter actor Martin Sheen. Few people know that he is pro-life. Now he is stepping up to the plate big time. The Coalition Against Assisted Suicide, a Washington group opposing the ballot measure, has purchased air time for ads featuring Martin Sheen.

“I try to work when I’m not on the screen to help improve conditions for the most vulnerable people in our country — low wage workers, immigrants, the disabled and the poor,” said Sheen. “We have a health care system where the more money you have, the better medical care you receive. Initiative 1000 is a dangerous idea — because so many people do not have the money necessary to get the care they need. When I heard about Initiative 1000, I wanted to help stop it before it harms people who are at risk.”

Sheen understands that the victims of assisted suicide are the vulnerable. The ads focus on the major flaws in I 1000, one of which is that health care insurers and HMOs could promote assisted suicide to save on costs for medical care. This underscores what has happened in Oregon where two patients were denied payment for treatment but told their assisted suicide drugs would be covered.

The Coalition Against Assisted Suicide is being outspent three-to-one. More funds are needed if they are to defeat a measure that will send ripples throughout the country should it succeed.

Copies of the ads can be found here.

Barbara Lyons