Grassroots efforts have again bested Maryland Democrats’ efforts to legalize assisted suicide, protecting  vulnerable groups, such as military veterans, National Right to Life announced this month.

This was the eighth time such legislation has been introduced in Maryland, and the eighth time it has been overcome.

National Right to Life declared the legislation, called the “End of Life Options Act,” officially  “dead” after the Maryland General Assembly’s session for the year concluded April 7.

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The legislation was denied a hearing in the Senate, and it stalled in the House.

House Delegate Terri Hill, a Democrat, had introduced HB1328, alongside 48 other Democrats, and Sen. Will Smith, another Democrat, introduced companion bill SB926.

National Right to Life stated that advocates with its local chapter in Maryland sent 8,424 letters to legislators urging them to reject the bills. Maryland Right to Life also worked with representatives in the veterans community. In its press release, National Right to Life stated that according to a 2024 report from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for veterans under 45.

“Our veterans deserve the highest quality of physical and mental health care available,” National Right to Life stated. “The government should not evade this duty of care by licensing doctors to kill veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or chronic pain.”

After advocates for veterans spoke up against the bill, Smith canceled its hearing in the Senate.

Pro-life advocates lobbied against the legislation even before it was reintroduced, as CatholicVote reported in February. Rumors that the bill would come back up were sufficient  prompting for advocates to proactively urge lawmakers to reject it.

Accessible Resources for Independence Executive Director Chris Kelter warned Jan. 30 while lobbying that the legislation is especially dangerous to people with disabilities.

“People with disabilities should be supported and live life to the fullest and should not have to consider ending their lives for any reason,” Kelter said.

In an April 14 statement, Americans United for Life celebrated the legislation’s latest defeat, hailing the efforts of “grassroots testimonies and thousands of letters speaking out” against physician assisted suicide.

“This,” AUL said, “is a HUGE win for life!”

LifeNews Note: McKenna Snow writes for CatholicVote, where this column originally appeared.

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