“You see George, you really had a wonderful life, don’t you see what a mistake it would be to throw it all away?”
These words still fresh in mind from the holiday classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” always hits hard, the angel Clarence pleading with George Bailey not to take his own life.
The concern for George’s life is not just from his guardian angel, but from his wife, Mary, who knew he was troubled. She encouraged their children to pray, she called everyone in town to help, and all of his family and friends acted to save him.
Today, the message to people in crisis who are considering throwing it all away is quite the opposite. Some even suggest suicide is the logical choice — “You don’t want to be a burden to your family” or you deserve “death with dignity.” There is nothing dignified in death by suicide.
Now, politicians are weighing into the life and death debate, sending a clear message that people are expendable, encouraging them to get out of the way, and forcing the medical community to participate in ending the lives of their patients.
Illinois just became the thirteenth state to allow physician-assisted suicide with Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) signing the “End of Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act” into law on Dec. 12, 2025.
Unfortunately, these laws don’t remain just for the terminally ill for long. In states that have passed such ghoulish death sentences, the parameters soon expand.
In 2016, our Northern neighbors passed Canada’s euphemistic “Medical Assistance in Dying” law for informed and consenting adults who have a “grievous and irremediable condition.” There were safeguards that required the request be made in writing before two witnesses, the ability to withdraw the request, and a 10-day reflection period before any drugs were administered.
In 2021, the height of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Canadian legislature broadened the eligibility of MAID to those who have a “serious and incurable illness, disease or disability, be in an advanced state of irreversible decline in capability and have enduring and intolerable physical or psychological suffering that cannot be alleviated under conditions the person considers acceptable.”
Serious illness? Psychological suffering? Decline in capability? A far cry from “terminally ill.”
In 2024, MAID accounted for 5.1% of all deaths in Canada, with 16,499 reported cases. In 2021, 2.2% of the total number receiving assistance in dying were individuals “whose natural deaths were not reasonably foreseeable.” In other words, their death was not imminent. Last year that number doubled to 4.4%. Data indicate 37.3% of MAID recipients were from “neighborhoods characterized by residential instability.” In other words, homeless, marginalized people with no hope and no support.
Human rights advocates note impoverished or lonely individuals are requesting MAID. Plans are to allow physician-assisted suicide for mental illness in March 2027.
Can states such as Illinois, California, and Oregon be far behind? When 1 in 5 people now suffer from mental illness each year in the U.S., is this the road we want to take? Suicide is already the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10-34 and they are the ones experiencing the highest numbers of mental illnesses.
The disability community, which adamantly opposes this legislation, rightly points out the disabled and elderly are abused every day and can be easily manipulated to take this step by the medical community, by family and friends who no longer have use for them. Having cared for my disabled mother for years, I see the attitudes of some, even in the medical community, who may say her life is less worthy. Once the state normalizes killing the ill, there is little to impede its “progress.”
California passed physician-assisted suicide in 2016 and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) revised his state’s law in 2021 to limit the previous 15-day waiting period to just two days. The new parameters became permanent in October 2025.
Why are politicians pushing people to take their own lives? Why isn’t the solution advancements in palliative and hospice care, investing in people, and reinforcing their worth and importance in society?
Let’s ask former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whose first instinct during the coronavirus was to send the elderly, those most vulnerable to the illness, to facilities where they could spread the virus and die, away from family or friends or anyone to fight for their rights.
On Dec. 7, his successor, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) announced an agreement with the legislature to make “medical aid in dying” available to New Yorkers with less than six months to live. Despite vociferously claiming to be a champion of suicide prevention, Hochul says she will sign the bill this month.
“This new law signals our government’s abandonment of its most vulnerable citizens, telling people who are sick or disabled that suicide in their case is not only acceptable, but is encouraged by our elected leaders,” said Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the Bishops of New York State.
“Even one suicide is one too many,” Hochul said just a few months ago for Suicide Prevention Month. “We are redoubling our prevention efforts and raising awareness of the statewide resources available to help those in crisis or anyone who feels like they need someone to talk to.”
DAVOS SHOWS THAT EUROPE STILL DOESN’T GET IT
If only politicians and civic leaders, the media, Hollywood, and the culture were redoubling their efforts to prevent suicide instead of sending the message that killing yourself is the answer to life’s problems. We need more guardian angels protecting lives, not ending them.
Diana L. Banister is a political and communications strategist, a former Trump administration official, and executive consultant with Sovereign Global Solutions.
