

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In the second attempt this year to establish a “right to die” in the state of California, state assembly lawmakers passed an assisted-suicide bill on Wednesday, by a vote of 42-33. The bill now faces a vote in the state Senate.
The bill, A.B. X2-15, would allow physicians to prescribe lethal medication to terminally ill patients who have requested it.
Some of those opposing the bill, also called the End of Life Option Act, called a recent legislative hearing “a well-orchestrated stage play designed to minimize the voices of those opposed to the bill.”
“Although many ‘concerns’ were raised by committee members, the softball questions were directed at proponents of the bill instead of the expert witnesses in opposition,” the California Catholic Conference said Sept. 4.
“Even when supporting arguments were misleading and inaccurate, there was no opportunity to refute the misinformation.”
California had abandoned efforts to pass a right-to-die bill this July, after the Assembly Health Committee fell short of votes.
Only two months later, the movement has resurfaced with more momentum, and the bill revisited the state assembly this week, under the pretext of a special legislative session on health-care financing convened by Gov. Jerry Brown.
However, opponents found this move suspicious, saying that the bill really has nothing to do with health-care financing at all.
“The hearing was part of a special session designed to address health-care financing, but the only financing question in the debate dealt with how inexpensive the suicide drugs would be compared to other costs,” noted the California Catholic Conference.
The new version of the bill includes additional safeguards, including that the patients be able to take the medication themselves, that two doctors approve, that the patient submit two oral requests at least 15 days apart, plus a written request, and that there will be two witnesses. It also expires in 10 years, at which time it could be reviewed and extended.
The push toward the legalization of physician-assisted suicide has been accelerating since the highly publicized case of Brittany Maynard, a Californian, late last year. Maynard’s mother and husband have been working to legalize the right to die in California ever since Maynard’s death in Oregon.
Other supporters of A.B. X2-15 include Assemblywoman Catharine Baker, R-Pleasanton, who is advocating for the ability to choose death in a terminal circumstance, calling the denial of this “nothing short of cruel.”
Although Brown remains hesitant toward the passing of the bill, saying other health-care topics should take priority, he has not been vocal about his stance on the issue.
Opposers of the bill, such as Assemblyman Mike Gipson, D-Carson, challenged the passage of A.B. X2-15 with the argument that many terminally ill diagnoses turn around into miraculous recoveries.
A six-month terminal diagnosis, which is what the bill requires to qualify for the right to die, is not long enough to determine an individual’s improvement, Gipson argued.
Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown, D-Rialto, opposed the bill on the same grounds. Her son was near death with an infection, but when doctors suggested she let him go, she refused. He remained on life support and eventually came off of it and is now married and a father. Brown commented, “Doctor’s don’t know everything.”
Other groups of opposition include Marilyn Golden, who fights for the rights of persons with disabilities. Golden believes better palliative care should be the topic of discussion, rather than seeking means to obtain death.
The bill, having passed in the state assembly, will now make its way to the state Senate, which had passed the earlier version of the legislation. The deadline for the bill to be passed in session is Sept. 11.
Physician-assisted suicide is already legal in the states of Oregon, Washington, Vermont and Montana.
The 2014 California State DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM (goals)include euthanasia (coded death with dignity), sex change operations and hormones for life, and abortion - ALL at taxpayer expense.
(Of course the Dem Platform includes support for homosexual marriage.)
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Bishops, Priests and Laity all need to pay attention to the “goals” of political parties at both the State and National levels.
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CCC: “2277 Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.
Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator.
The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded.”
Dear Jean Ler, Catholics in Germany in the early 1930s lost “so many battles” as the Nazis rose in power and control. It became “settled science”, taught in every science book in the schools, that some humans were less worthy of life than others. And euthanasia was practiced liberally, until it grew into death camps.
Resurrection is ALWAYS preceded by crucifixion. So, we will always “lose”, a lot. Get used to it, and rely more and more on God’s actions. By fasting and praying.
If Governor Brown, a former Jesuit seminarian, has any integrity left in his pro-abortion soul, an open question, he will veto this monstrous legislation.
This is ironic. California is desperately trying to save the Sequoia trees from the forest fires. Some of them are “suffering” already from the drought, yet no one is suggesting that they be cut down to ease their death, but this is exactly what this bill would do. California, we got it. Your old and ancient trees are worth saving, but instigating more humane care for the dying, improving mental facilities and counseling the depressed and terminally ill are much less. Trees will always win it seems.
Thank you California Bishops and priests for not publicly standing up against this evil. Again California and America are sliding into perdition because you are cowards or you are for this by holding your silence.
People sometimes become very depressed, even when there is no objective immediately fatal terminal illness. Also, younger relatives of some older person in questionable health may be eager to get their hands on an inheritance and encourage Grandma or Grandpa to sign up for “Assisted Suicide” in order to avoid anticipated - but NOT CURRENTLY EXPERIENCED Pain.
So the easy availability of assisted suicide will open the door for early deaths for victims of relatives’ greed, and suicides from people simply deeply depressed.
Not a good idea.
TeaPot562
Killing people is pretty black and white. You will note that NO bills in ANY legislature have been introduced to promote pain and suffering relief for the dying. Much easier to simply dispose of the dying quickly and quietly. California is often described as a progressive laboratory for liberal legislation. You can be absolutely sure, if this passes, a similar bill will be introduced in congress to add this to Obamacare, under a different name, to establish real death panels. And so much for Gov. Moonbeam’s Jesuit education.
What a surprise. Massively evil and stupid moonbeam and his witless legislative cohort corrupting the society to the extent they can. CA. Stupidest electorate in the cosmos(es?). The dismaying large corrupt/lo iq electoral fraction, the useful idiots, are doing us in.
How can I send mail to the Senate in Cali? To protest this bill.
A Bill is needed for those in the womb. A Right To Be Born,
I hope and pray that our Church will not make this issue another “abortion” or “pro-life” issue. Having assisted dying people, legislation to assist the dying with dignity is a very complex and complicated matter, requiring discernment and prudential judgment. Our faith should not make this another wedge issue, where everything is described as black and white, virtue or sin. We have lost so, so many battles recently because of our Church’s lack of compassion and understanding of human realities. Let’s not lose this one too.