Mass. critics of suicide question return $250,000

BOSTON (AP) - A group opposed to a question that would allow terminally ill patients to self-administer life-ending drugs is returning a $250,000 donation from a conservative Mississippi-based organization with anti-gay views that describes itself as pro-family.

The American Family Association was the largest single donor to the Committee Against Physician Assisted Suicide, which has raised more than $900,000 to oppose the question.

The committee told the Associated Press on Friday that they wanted to make sure that the debate remained focused on the ballot question. Among other activities, the American Family Association boycotts corporations it believes are too friendly to gay rights.

Dignity 2012, the group pushing the ballot question, reported collecting just over $302,000 this year.

The question is one of three on the Massachusetts ballot in November, including a measure to legalize the medical use of marijuana.

Cox Media Group