Recently, you may have read about four people arrested for being involved with a man who committed suicide in Georgia. The man who killed himself had cancer of the throat, his jaw had been removed, he could not swallow, and was facing two more surgeries. He decided he had more than he could endure and wished to end his struggle and suffering. The four people arrested were members of the Final Exit Network. The media refers to the four people arrested as part of a “ring” — an obviously pejorative word. They are no more a ring than your hiking or bridge group. They are a group of volunteers who are death with dignity advocates.

Final Exit Network is a completely legal, law-abiding 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Two of those arrested were present at his suicide. They were “exit guides.” The other two, who were arrested in other states, were charged with being accomplices, as they had trained the exit guides on the safest, most efficient way to guide someone through the process. The network is an all-volunteer organization across the nation with members who pay $50 a year to belong. The annual fee buys the assurance of an alternative if they become terminally ill from an incurable disease they can no longer bear. If they choose, they can request the services of a compassionate, caring exit guide who will counsel them, who will be with them, who will hold their hands and comfort them when they choose to end their own lives — but will never physically assist in any part of the process.

Final Exit Network is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to serving people who are suffering from an intolerable condition. Network volunteers offer counseling, support, and even guidance to self-deliverance at a time and place of a person’s choosing, but the person always does the choosing. At no time does any member of this volunteer organization physically assist the person who has chosen to end his/her life. The person who has chosen to end his/her suffering must be able to physically do the simple tasks required.

People are suffering. Every year thousands of competent adults must suffer needlessly, forced to live through lingering and often painful death. Control, dignity and quality of life are distant memories. All that remains for them is the reality of an indefinite or hopeless future.

Lost in the stories published about the arrests of these four people is the real story. Members across the country are counting on their “exit guides” to tell them how to end their misery. Because of the threat of arrest, the board of the Final Exit Network has had to temporarily defer any immediate exits; to defer any information, advice and comfort to those who wish to end their suffering. Many who are facing protracted, losing battles with cancer, stroke, congestive heart failure, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and other incurable conditions, who yearn for dignified withdrawal rather than clinging desperately to every breath, will not be provided the comfort and care provided by these volunteers.

Isn’t it strange that physician-assisted suicide is legal in Oregon, Washington, and Montana, but other states still punish it as a misdemeanor or even a felony? Had the man in Georgia lived in Oregon, he could have received voter-approved, legal assisted dying in the form of a life ending prescription from his doctor.

Final Exit will survive this attack and move forward to assist those who so desperately depend on them.

John Fanning lives in Dillon. For more information, go to www.finalexitnetwork.org.