EFFINGHAM — The Effingham County Board passed a resolution opposing the state’s medical-aid-in-dying law on Monday, with one member who initially supported it dissenting.
Before the vote, resident Pat Lewis expressed his opposition to the resolution, citing specific issues he had with it.
One issue Lewis cited was the use of the word “suicide” in it. The resolution asserts that the law, called the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act (SB 1950), legalizes physician-assisted suicide and explicitly refers to it as such. He believes the resolution uses the word in broad terms to address a law that is really about a “compassionate option” for someone who has been diagnosed with terminal illness and has only six months to live.
“In reading the draft resolution and listening to some of the comments in previous meetings, one would come to the conclusion that this bill had not been read by some on the county board. I think sensationalist terms and misrepresented facts are being presented to the public in this draft resolution,” he said.
Lewis criticized another part of the resolution that states: “The Effingham County Board affirms the dignity and sanctity of every human life, regardless of age, condition, disability, or perceived quality of life.”
“I think it is disingenuous,” he said, referring to a 2024 resolution the board approved that barred the use of county funds for services for non-citizen immigrants or in support of the “immigration crisis.” The board later asked voters if tax funds should support illegal migrants in the county, except in emergencies. Ninety percent of those voting said no.
“This is dehumanizing language, and it is demeaning and has placed us on a pedestal of defining someone’s worth and value based on money. This was placed on the ballot as part of the anti-immigrant hysteria that has swept through this country and continues to persist to this day,” he said. “It saddens me that we as a county cannot even pass the basic test of humanity.”
Lewis said the initiative set a precedent and does not affirm the inherent dignity and sanctity of all human life in the county.
“Therefore, that statement should be scrapped from any resolution now and in the future,” he said.
Lewis also told the board if they “truly cared” about revising the law, they would take the time to read every section of the law and address their concerns to their respective legislators.
“The Effingham County Board is not a legislative body in a true sense, but is a municipal body addressing public safety, public works, land use and zoning, community service and local governance,” he said.
He believes the board’s time would be better served focusing on those responsibilities rather than spending “precious time” on a resolution that, in his view, is merely an opinion.
Effingham County Board member Sandi Rich voted against the resolution Monday after approving it to move forward last week. She noted that many people contacted her, most of whom opposed it for various reasons.
“It is my duty to listen to the people in my district and represent them. Therefore, I cannot support this resolution as written,” she said.
Rich said she supports parts of the resolution. However, she believes it reflects opinions and general beliefs without presenting “clear, actionable” solutions to the specific legal issues identified. She believes it would be productive for the board to focus on measures that offer practical and constructive solutions.
Rich did share concerns she has about the law, especially its impact on the coroner and first responders.
“Under this law, on the death certificate, coroners must declare the primary cause of death as the underlying terminal illness. Essentially, coroners must lie on the death certificate. In these cases, the primary cause of death is in fact the prescribed drug meant to end the life. Yet, the law forbids listing suicide or medically aided dying as a cause,” she said.
Rich noted that the law also doesn’t include proper notification of the coroner and first responders when a lethal drug is taken in a death.
“In many instances, an autopsy will be needed at an additional cost to the county,” she said.
As in the resolution, Rich criticized the law’s oversight of unused lethal medication. The law requires the medications be delivered to the nearest qualified facility that properly disposes of controlled substances or, if none is available, by lawful means in accordance with applicable state and federal guidelines.
“Who regulates this or even tracks this?” she asked.
Rich noted many of her concerns are addressed in SB 3795. She also noted another bill, HB 4381, seeks to repeal the law altogether. Local Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, introduced the bill, which has been sent to the rules committee. The Senate bill has not been assigned yet.
Rich pointed out that the law is set to take effect Sept. 12, and her personal beliefs are not relevant to this discussion, as the law states, “this is a matter between an individual and their physician.”
County Board Chairman Joshua Douthit, who introduced the resolution, praised Rich, Lewis and others for voicing their opinions on it.
“Hopefully, this will send a message for them (legislators) to look at it again and, obviously, they are with the House bill and the Senate bill,” he said.