Monday February 23, 2009
Hawaii Legislature Won't Consider Assisted Suicide Bill This Year
HONOLULU, Hawaii, February 23, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Hawaii legislature won't consider an assisted suicide bill that was introduced on January 24, reports the Honolulu Advertiser.
The bill, HB806 would have allowed a terminally ill adult to be prescribed a lethal dose of medication to end his or her own life. Had the bill been passed, it would have made Hawaii the fourth state in the union to permit assisted suicide, after Oregon, Washington and Montana.
However, House Judiciary chairman Jon Riki Karamatsu reportedly said last Wednesday that while he is open to hearing a similar bill in the future, pro-assisted suicide advocates have not advocated the bill strongly enough for it to be considered this year.
Conservative bioethicist Wesley Smith welcomed the news, observing, "The apparent lack of energy by advocates is a surprise. Perhaps, they had counted the votes and realized it wasn't in the cards. In any event, Rep. Karamatsu deserves congratulations and thanks."
Multiple attempts have been made in the past to legalize assisted suicide in the state, but they have all failed.
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Montana District Court Legalizes Assisted Suicide
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/dec/08120808.html
Washington Becomes 2nd US State with Legal Assisted Suicide
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/nov/08110503.html
New Assisted Suicide Bill Introduced in Hawaii Legislature
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/jan/07013004.html
