State Sanctioned Assisted Suicide Bill Narrowly Approved by Assembly Judiciary Committee

State Sanctioned Assisted Suicide Bill Narrowly Approved by Assembly Judiciary Committee

4/12/2005 6:33:00 PM

To: State Desk

Contact: Tim Rosales of Californians Against Assisted Suicide, 916-473-8866 ext. 7

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 12 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Assembly Judiciary Committee today approved AB 654 (Berg/Levine), the bill that sanctions state sponsored doctor assisted suicide. The vote did not follow party lines with five members of the committee voting to support and four voting to oppose.

Testifying in opposition to AB 654 was the president of the California Medical Association, Dr. Michael J. Sexton M.D. who testified that debate by CMA doctors on assisted suicide was "remarkably one-sided" against AB 654 during their recent House of Delegates meeting. Also testifying against was Dr. Kenneth Stevens M.D - an Oregon oncologist who highlighted the problems and complications in Oregon, and Marilyn Golden - policy analyst for the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund who testified to the harmful effects this bill has to the disabled and those without adequate health insurance.

Opponents of the bill outnumbered bill supporters over 2 to 1.

Assemblymember Cindy Montanez (D-San Fernando) indicated that while she appreciated the authors bringing forward this discussion about end of life care, she opposes the bill and any attempt for government to sanction suicide.

Assemblyman Ray Haynes (R-Murrieta) stated during the hearing, "You will end up with the Netherlands experiment in California."

The Netherlands has legalized Euthanasia that applies to the chronically ill, disabled, and mentally ill.

Californians Against Assisted Suicide was established to defeat legislation that would legalize assisted suicide in California. CAAS is a coalition of health care, disability rights, and grassroots advocacy organizations united in strong opposition to the legalization of assisted suicide.

CAAS believes assisted suicide represents a destructive response to illness or disability. As such, any legalization of assisted suicide is bad public policy and harmful to the well being of all Californians.

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