The message on a billboard in New Jersey is stirring up a lot of controversy.
It centers on whether a person suffering from a painful disease has the right to take his or her own life.
The billboard looms over a busy section of Route 22 in Hillside, facing the eastbound lanes. Some drivers said they are confused by the message.
“My Life My Death My Choice. So what does that mean?” Hillside resident Steve Leo said.
The Final Exit Network paid for the advertisement that reads “My Life My Death My Choice” and offers a website. The national non-profit group said it provides guidance to adults who suffer from illnesses that are so painful that they want to end their lives.
CBS 2 HD spoke to the group’s vice-president on the phone.
“People who have Lou Gehrig’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, emphysema and a whole other range of wasting diseases,” Robert Levine said.
“It’s not right choice. God gives us life and only God knows when he’s going to take us from this world,” said resident Emiliano Martinez.
“It’s your life. You should be able to choose where you want to go what you want to do with your life,” added resident Richard Barros.
The group said it does not assist in deaths but has provided information to at least 300 people nationwide who have ended their own lives since 2004, several of them in New Jersey.
“We insist that they give us complete medical records. We have interviews with them. We want to be sure, psychologically, they’re sound,” Levine said.
Some therapists said this message may push a troubled teen or adult over the edge. The Catholic Church, which strongly condemns the billboard, agreed.
“Someone who is at odds within himself sees a message like that and feels, well, it’s okay then,” said Jim Goodness of the Newark Archdiocese.
And while the organization does not advocate physician-assisted suicides, like in the case of Jack Kevorkian, eight of its members are facing charges in Arizona and Georgia. The vice president told CBS 2 HD they are innocent.
The group has also place billboards in San Francisco and Florida, where there is a large senior citizen population.
(Source: WCBSTV)
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4 Responses
Unfortunately, this sign is probably protected under the first amendment. We may nopt like it but we can’t stop it.
“Probably” Moose613?! Should free expression apply only to messages with which we agree?
YONASONw,
I said probably only because I am not a lawyer nor am I an expert on the first amendment. Certainly, free expression should apply to thsoe with whom we disagree.
I don’t know the legal terminology, but advertisements are frequently not allowed if perceived to be harmful– i.e. when was the last time you saw a cigarette billboard? If there’s real cause for concern that this will lead to increases in suicides, then there will be a great case for taking it down. Since research shows that hearing of successful suicides does increase the number of suicides, and since one theory for that is due to it normalizing suicide, it’s not so far-fetched to argue that this billboard could also normalize it and give people the go-ahead even if it’s not the population they’re targeting.