8mm
Posted on 02/01/2007 3:59:57 PM PST by wagglebee
Honolulu, HI (LifeNews.com) -- The Hawaii state legislature is once again tackling the issue of assisted suicide and a state House committee will consider a bill soon that would make the state just the second to legalize the practice. Only Oregon has legalized assisted suicide and measures in several states, including Hawaii, have failed to add others to the list.
In 2002, a similar bill backed by then-governor Ben Cayetano (D), passed the House 30-20, but it was defeated in the Senate by only 3 votes.
Then in 2005, the state House Health Committee quickly voted down a bill to legalize assisted suicide.
That committee will hold another hearing in the next 10 days on a measure sponsored by its chairman, Democratic state Rep. Josh Green. He told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin newspaper that he met with party leaders and got his bill assigned to his committee.
"I'm going to hear it in the next 10 days because people deserve to have a hearing on things they're passionate about," Green said. "It's an emotional issue and it's a critical issue because we have to be safe with peoples' lives."
House Judiciary Vice Chairman Blake Oshiro, a Democrat, is a leading co-sponsor along with twelve other Democrats and two Republicans.
Meanwhile, Senate President Colleen Hanabusa introduced a companion bill (SB 1995) in the Senate, though no hearing has been scheduled on it.
Asked about the prospects of the bill, Green told the newspaper, "It's not a foregone conclusion whether it will pass or fail."
Pro-life groups again said they would strongly oppose the bill and they will be joined by medical groups and disability rights organizations.
Kelly Rosati, executive director of the Hawaii Family Forum, told the Star-Bulletin, "I think it's a proposal that's opposed by pretty much all of Hawaii's medical community, the disability rights community as well as by many in the faith community."
The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii says it supports the proposal.
During the last debate, Dr. William Petty, an oncologist, said patients facing death "are potential victims of subtle and not-so-subtle coercion."
"Care and treatment can be expensive," he added. "Manipulation of patients is a real problem when physician-assisted suicide becomes an option."
Michael Tada, who suffers from cerebral palsy, had a difficult time sharing his views against the bill.
Through an independent living aide, Tada said he thought the bill would legitimatize suicide and said he might not be alive now if allowed a doctor's help to end his life.
In addition to pro-life groups, the Hawaii Medical Association opposed the bill and Dr. Leonard Howard, past president of the group, said the bill "offers only one idea -- death."
"Care and treatment can be expensive," he added. "Manipulation of patients is a real problem when physician-assisted suicide becomes an option."
100% correct!
Pro-Life Ping
Ping
Freepmail wagglebee or little jeremiah to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.
FreeRepublic moral absolutes keyword search
OK....they can go first...
Go to hell, go directly to hell do not pass GO do not collect $200.
Assisted suicide IS euthanasia...anyone who contends otherwise is a moron.
Assisted suicide is merely a suicide assisted. Just like for me to pull your wallet out of your pocket would be a criminal offense, but it would cease being an offense [and I could not be called a pickpocket] if I were to do it at your request [say, you have an injured hand or something]. Ditto here. Assisted suicide is no different in the degree of criminality than an unassisted variety.
A moron, and a liar. They're stupid enough to think we'll believe their lies.
Never fear. There're at least two years left for Bush's DOJ to convince Congress that assisted suicide is interstate commerce.
No need for any confusion here, the ACLU has always supported murderers.
Hopefully, they won't actually go through with it.
Hawaii is full of leftists, they probably will vote for it.
The justification, most frequently cited for *assisted suicide* is for there be a physician present to ensure "nothing goes wrong." If the party who had previously consented to suicide, hesitates or waivers at the last minute, but is incapable of communicating that thought, the physician would almost surely interpret this as his cue to step in and consummate the act to ensure nothing went wrong. It is giving the physician (or simply the assisting party) the ultimate authority over the decision as to whether or not the person lives or dies, and does not honor the final wish of the patient. That is euthanasia regardless of any term you should use in its stead.
What is needed there is not so much a physician as a notary, or a judge, to provide for the due process and minimize abuses. Hence the need for legal framework.
Why is euthanasia "needed" at all?
You're kidding right? What you're suggesting is that if one decides to commit suicide, and has it "notarized," one then surrenders the ability to change their mind at the last minute...but you and those on your end of the argument insist that suicide is all about personal choice. What you are talking about is essentially hiring a hit man to take yourself out, and have a court witness the validity of the contract!! Do you realize how insane this is?
Like everything else in the left's agenda, the arguments in favor of euthanasia are entirely emotional with almost no basis in either fact or reason.
LOL...I guess the notary at least makes a little bit of sense since you'll need to transfer the title of your car if you're going to have someone kill you...;-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.