David Awoyode
A newly resurfaced video from 2018 shows Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger endorsing assisted suicide and suggesting that even religious hospitals should be required to comply with the practice.
At a campaign event during her first run for Congress, Spanberger was asked about her stance on legislation to legalize “medical aid in dying.” She replied:
“I support and I would support legislation that legalizes the right to die with dignity of a person’s choosing. That would include allowing for medical providers to provide prescriptions for life-ending prescriptions.”
Stance on Religious Hospitals
When pressed about religious health institutions restricting what their doctors can discuss with patients, Spanberger objected:
“I oppose the ability of religious institutions to put their religious-based ideas on individuals and their health care choices and options.”
She argued that personal beliefs should not determine what medical care physicians provide.
Political Fallout in 2025 Race
Spanberger, who is running against Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, has not responded to questions about whether she still supports the position today.
Republicans swiftly condemned the remarks. State Del. Geary Higgins called the comments “absolutely unbelievable,” warning that religious hospitals could be forced not only to discuss assisted suicide but also to make it available.
Pro-Life and Religious Groups Respond
The National Right to Life Committee described Spanberger’s position as evidence of “how far some are willing to go to prioritize ideology over constitutional rights.”
Outreach director Raimundo Rojas urged Virginians to reject the idea that the state can dictate the moral framework of faith-based hospitals.
Virginia’s Debate Over Assisted Suicide
Virginia lawmakers voted down a bill to legalize assisted suicide in 2024. Currently, nearly a dozen U.S. states and the District of Columbia permit the practice.
Virginia’s Catholic bishops, Michael Burbidge of Arlington and Barry Knestout of Richmond, strongly opposed last year’s proposal, calling it a “lethal measure” that would put the most vulnerable at risk. They reminded citizens that human life is sacred and must never be discarded.
