June Harltey assisted her brother to die after he repeatedly begged each and every family member. She has now been charged with assisted suicide. You can read the details of this heartbreaking story in this Sacramento Bee article. It brings to my mind the words heartbreaking, courageous, love, compassion and most certainly not criminal. However, others have different ideas:

The sister made a grave mistake," said Randy Thomasson, president of SaveCalifornia.com, which opposes all forms of assisted suicide. "This lady cannot get off scot-free for killing her brother. Charges must be pressed.

"It needs to be said loud and clear that suicide is never the answer, and helping someone who is depressed to commit suicide is a crime. What the depressed person needs is counseling, not death." Italics added by me.

Counseling? And by the way even if it was relevant, would you, Mr Thomasson be ready to foot the bill for that counseling for June's brother and for every other like him? I would bet not!

Can anyone be more heartless than Mr. Thomasson today?

Gillian Parrillo
SacWomen