Thompson Calls Right to Die a Family Decision

After daughter's death, candidate won't make issue 'political football'

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 23, 2007 3:59 PM CDT

(Newser) – Fred Thompson opened up yesterday about the 2002 death of his daughter, saying end-of-life decisions should be made by families, not governments. Betsy Thompson Panici died at age 38 after an accidental prescription drug overdose, ABC News reports. The GOP hopeful said the kinds of choices his family had to make shouldn’t be “a political football.”

"No matter which decision you make, you will never know whether or not you made exactly the right decision," Thompson said. He recently refused to discuss the Terri Schiavo case, saying he couldn’t remember the details, and he declined to explore the issue yesterday, saying, “This will probably be the last time I ever address it.”

GOP presidential hopeful Fred Thompson declared yesterday that the government should have no say in end-of-life decisions, citing decisions his family had to make in the 2002 death of his own daughter.... (KRT Photos)

Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn. arrives for a town hall meeting with Republican business women at the Water Tower Florist in Kissimmee, Fla., Monday, Oct. 22, 2007. Monday... (Associated Press)

Young supporters of GOP presidential hopeful Fred Thompson, who yesterday asserted that the government should butt out of end-of-life decisions. (Getty Images)

US Republican presidential candidate and former senator Fred Thompson declared yesterday that the government should have no say in end-of-life decisions, citing decisions his family had to make in the... (Getty Images (by Event))

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Thompson Calls Right to Die a Family Decision

After daughter's death, candidate won't make issue 'political football'

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Thompson Calls Right to Die a Family Decision

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Fred Thompson • Terri Schiavo • end of life care • right to die

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Pope: Don't End Comatose Woman's Life

Joins PM Berlusconi in fighting Italian Terry Schiavo case

We Should All Die the Way Doctors Do

Many 'go gently' rather than opting for extreme measures: Dr. Ken Murray

Elderly Stunningly Likely to Have Surgery in Final Year

Doctors question if we're operating on the old too often

'Dr. Death' Kevorkian Was No Hero

Do those not terminally ill have the right to die?

Feds Seize Suicide Kits Sold by 91-Year-Old Woman

It's helium hoods instead of tea cozies for Sharlotte Hydorn

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Newser By Users

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