Inclusion Daily Express -- Facing Organized Opposition, Assisted Suicide Bill Is Pulled From Consideration

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Facing Organized Opposition, Assisted Suicide Bill Is Pulled From Consideration
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
June 7, 2007

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA--California's latest attempt to pass a physician assisted suicide law is dead.

Knowing that they did not have enough votes to pass Assembly Bill 374, the "California Compassionate Choices Act", before a Friday deadline, sponsors pulled the measure from the floor Thursday.

They said they might bring it back when the Assembly regroups in January 2008.

The measure faced opposition from many groups, including California and national disability rights advocacy groups. Many disability rights advocates have protested against such laws across the country, arguing that they make people with certain disabilities more vulnerable, especially at a time when health care costs are so high.

Based on Oregon's voter approved "Death with Dignity Act", AB 374 would have allowed a doctor to prescribe a lethal dose of a drug to adults with terminal illnesses so they could kill themselves. The measure was believed to be the sixth unsuccessful attempt in California to transform the crime of assisted suicide into a medical treatment.

"I think legislators understand the devastating impact assisted suicide would have on the disability community in California," said Marilyn Golden, a policy analyst with the Disability Rights, Education and Defense Fund, in a press release. "Anyone should see a huge red flag over this bill when you consider the wide collection of disability rights organization opposed to this legislation."

Efforts to allow doctors to help people kill themselves in other states, including Hawaii and Vermont, have been repeatedly defeated after disability advocates joined other groups in vocal opposition. According to the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, of the 75 legislative proposals in 21 states between 1994 and 2006 that would have made assisted suicide legal, not one has become law.

Related:
"For the Third Time in Three Years, Assisted Suicide Fails to Get Support in the Assembly" (Californians Against Assisted Suicide)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/07/red/0607b.htm
Californians Against Assisted Suicide
http://www.ca-aas.com

Copyright © 2007 Inonit Publishing
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