UPDATE TO SEPT 8 STORY BELOW:
The California State Senate today approved AB2x15, the Assisted Suicide bill, by a vote of 23-14. The bill will now be sent to Gov. Brown’s desk for his signature.
Brown, a former Jesuit seminarian with plans to become a Catholic priest but who left the seminary after three years, has not indicated if he will sign it.
Californians Against Assisted Suicide spokesperson Tim Rosales, responded to the AB2x15 (Eggman) passage in the State Senate with the following coalition statement:
“As mentioned in both floor debates assisted suicide proponents circumvented the normal legislative process in passing this bill during a special session on health finance.”
“That said regarding this policy, we all know that ‘choice’ is a myth in the context of our unjust health care reality. End-of-life treatment options are already limited for millions of people—constrained by poverty, disability discrimination, and other obstacles. Adding this so-called “choice” into our dysfunctional healthcare system will push people into cheaper lethal options. There is no assurance everyone will be able to choose treatment over suicide; no material assistance for families of limited means who are struggling to care for loved ones; no meaningful protection from
abusive family members or caregivers.”
“If assisted suicide is made legal, it quickly becomes just another form of treatment and as such, will always be the cheapest option. This bill offers no requirement for mental health evaluation, doesn’t protect anyone from the subtle cost of treatment pressures or feelings of being a burden. In collaboration with groups representing people living with disabilities, cancer doctors, people advocating for the poor and uninsured and faith based organizations we will do everything we can to carry that message and ask the Governor Brown to veto this bill.”
Sept. 8, 2015 – ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL MOVES TO ASSEMBLY FLOOR SEPT. 9
Senate Bill 128, known as the Assisted Suicide bill to Californians opposed to physician-assisted suicide, will be heard on the Assembly floor Wednesday, Sept. 9, under its new name: AB2x15.
SB 128, which would have allowed physicians to prescribe life-ending drugs to terminally ill patients, was pulled from the Assembly Health Committee in early July after it was clear that not enough votes were behind the bill to pass it in the 19-member committee.
It was later announced that supporters of the bill would reintroduced it under a new name: AB2x15, End of Life.
The Compassion and Choices group, formerly named the Hemlock Society, intended to push AB2x15 cloaked within a “special session,” a process that is normally reserved for emergency actions, such as disaster recovery funding.
“This is a heavy-handed attempt to force through a bill that could not get any traction at all in committee,” the coalition Californians Against Assisted Suicide said in a statement upon hearing that the bill would be reintroduced.
Coincidentally, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has designated Sept. 6-9 as National Suicide Prevention Week.
If passed by the Assembly, AB2x15 will move to the California State Senate to be reviewed during a second extraordinary session on health care financing.
Related links:
STEPHANIE PACKER DEFINES ‘DYING WITH DIGNITY’
LIFE, DEATH AND SUICIDE
ASSISTED SUICIDE IS TOO DANGEROUS
LAWMAKERS WARNED AGAINST ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL
ASSISTED SUICIDE LAW INTRODUCES INCENTIVES FOR DEATH