Monday, August 25, 2008

Why be concerned about Bill AB 2747 in California?

AB 2747 represents a new strategy for the euthanasia lobby in the United States.

Assemblywoman Patty Berg (D - Eureka) who sponsored Bill AB 2747, was also the sponsor of three unsuccessful bills to legalize assisted suicide in California.

After failing to legalize assisted suicide in California, Compassion & Choices went to the strategy room and came up with a new idea, that being the codification into law of terminal sedation dehydration.

Earlier in the summer, Sen Gil Cedillo (D - Los Angeles) was able to convince Berg to remove the most controversial language in the bill, but the intention of the bill remains the same even though the language is less insidious.

The California Disability Alliance, California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, California League of United Latin American Citizens, La Raza Roundtable de California, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, California Right to Life and many others remain opposed to AB 2747.

Remember, AB 2747 is an unnecessary bill because it codifies into law practices that are already regulated by medical bodies. It also defines “palliative care” in terminology that is too broad. Finally, it continues to make terminal sedation and dehydration a medical act for people who are not yet dying, who would otherwise not be considered for such an act.

We need to be concerned if AB 2747 passes in California because this new strategy is sure to be deployed everywhere.

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