Lifenews.com is reporting that a bill is being introduced in the Maryland legislature that will promote suicide as an option for patients.
This would be a similar statute to the California AB2747 that was passed last year.
Link to the article:
http://www.lifenews.com/bio2707.html
Showing posts with label Bill AB 2747. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bill AB 2747. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Friday, September 5, 2008
Bill AB 2747 Immediate Action Required!
Bad Medicine
By Brian Johnston
AB 2747 appears, at first blush, to have a lot of diverse options made available to vulnerable patients. But a more careful reading and understanding of its origins and its "implementation plan," gives one pause.
AB 2747 was sponsored by 'Compassion in Choices' the new name for the Hemlock Society, America's leading 'right to die' organization. Hemlock changed its name, in part, because of the unsavory "death promotions" of some of its founders.
It is important to understand that the right to die movement seeks to promote its philosophy of "death as the answer" for emotionally vulnerable patients in a variety of situations. Incapacity, impairment, or when emotionally devastated by terminal prognosis; in general, if someone 'wants to die' who are we to stop them?
This philosophy is most clearly seen in a little known, but deadly aspect of California law. The legality of committing suicide by ceasing to eat or drink has been established in California (Bouvia Decision) and this "right" has explicitly been extended to those who are not in any way terminal. Liz Bouvia herself, a quadriplegic, is still alive, although the case, based on an episode of suicidal depression, is 20 years old. One of the most important aspects of the case is that it requires physicians who do not agree with the suicidal action to abet the suicide anyway.
Which brings us to AB 2747. Much of what this bill mandates will actually be carried out in the thousands of 'long-term care homes' and various other "health care facilities" that do not have on-site physicians. (Section 442.5) In this case the medical director of the facility is ordered to call in "community-based organizations that specialize in end-of-life care case management"... to fulfill the law. Note that the mysterious organizations described do not provide health care, but "end of life case management." Sounds suspiciously like "Compassion in Choices,' doesn't it? After all they have one specialty in this kind of "case management" - close the case.
And what is the actual law to be fulfilled? The patient must to be told of their legal options.
"Mandatory" counseling, but not in writing.
Now, as I said, AB 2747 has a lot of other words in it. And many of those words are things that you and I would want to hear should we be in such emotionally vulnerable condition: "Palliative care;" "hospice care;" "disease-targeted treatment." It is suggested that the advice will be 'comprehensive.' Amazingly, it is not required that any of these other options be in writing. Yet 'knowing what's legal' will now be the only mandatory legal requirement for ALL patients with any type of terminal diagnosis in the state of California. And the principal counselors will apparently be a private death-specialty organization.
Good doctors didn't want to do this. California's oncologists opposed the bill until an amendment lifted the burden to 'read their rights' to vulnerable patients off of the oncologist's shoulders.
So, the only legal requirement is that the patient must be told all their 'legal' options. If the actual health-care provider thinks that spelling out the law is not what is needed at the time, they are required to transfer the patient to someone who will push "the legal option.'
So who will do this 'counseling?' As in most other jurisdictions which allow suicide to be abetted, the patient is required to be directed to an indefinite, shadowy group who, "specialize in end-of-life case management."
And for those patients, the case is closed.
AB 2747 is on the Governor’s desk
Ask Governor Schwarzenegger to VETO this bill NOW
Call: (916) 445-2841 FAX (916) 558-3160
Brian Johnston is director of the CPLC. Formerly Commissioner on Aging for the State of California, he has served on the state’s Board of Examiners of Nursing Homes, and the Board of Directors of the National Legal Center for the Medically Dependent and Disabled. He is author of the book Death As A Salesman: What’s Wrong With Assisted Suicide.
By Brian Johnston
AB 2747 appears, at first blush, to have a lot of diverse options made available to vulnerable patients. But a more careful reading and understanding of its origins and its "implementation plan," gives one pause.
AB 2747 was sponsored by 'Compassion in Choices' the new name for the Hemlock Society, America's leading 'right to die' organization. Hemlock changed its name, in part, because of the unsavory "death promotions" of some of its founders.
It is important to understand that the right to die movement seeks to promote its philosophy of "death as the answer" for emotionally vulnerable patients in a variety of situations. Incapacity, impairment, or when emotionally devastated by terminal prognosis; in general, if someone 'wants to die' who are we to stop them?
This philosophy is most clearly seen in a little known, but deadly aspect of California law. The legality of committing suicide by ceasing to eat or drink has been established in California (Bouvia Decision) and this "right" has explicitly been extended to those who are not in any way terminal. Liz Bouvia herself, a quadriplegic, is still alive, although the case, based on an episode of suicidal depression, is 20 years old. One of the most important aspects of the case is that it requires physicians who do not agree with the suicidal action to abet the suicide anyway.
Which brings us to AB 2747. Much of what this bill mandates will actually be carried out in the thousands of 'long-term care homes' and various other "health care facilities" that do not have on-site physicians. (Section 442.5) In this case the medical director of the facility is ordered to call in "community-based organizations that specialize in end-of-life care case management"... to fulfill the law. Note that the mysterious organizations described do not provide health care, but "end of life case management." Sounds suspiciously like "Compassion in Choices,' doesn't it? After all they have one specialty in this kind of "case management" - close the case.
And what is the actual law to be fulfilled? The patient must to be told of their legal options.
"Mandatory" counseling, but not in writing.
Now, as I said, AB 2747 has a lot of other words in it. And many of those words are things that you and I would want to hear should we be in such emotionally vulnerable condition: "Palliative care;" "hospice care;" "disease-targeted treatment." It is suggested that the advice will be 'comprehensive.' Amazingly, it is not required that any of these other options be in writing. Yet 'knowing what's legal' will now be the only mandatory legal requirement for ALL patients with any type of terminal diagnosis in the state of California. And the principal counselors will apparently be a private death-specialty organization.
Good doctors didn't want to do this. California's oncologists opposed the bill until an amendment lifted the burden to 'read their rights' to vulnerable patients off of the oncologist's shoulders.
So, the only legal requirement is that the patient must be told all their 'legal' options. If the actual health-care provider thinks that spelling out the law is not what is needed at the time, they are required to transfer the patient to someone who will push "the legal option.'
So who will do this 'counseling?' As in most other jurisdictions which allow suicide to be abetted, the patient is required to be directed to an indefinite, shadowy group who, "specialize in end-of-life case management."
And for those patients, the case is closed.
AB 2747 is on the Governor’s desk
Ask Governor Schwarzenegger to VETO this bill NOW
Call: (916) 445-2841 FAX (916) 558-3160
Brian Johnston is director of the CPLC. Formerly Commissioner on Aging for the State of California, he has served on the state’s Board of Examiners of Nursing Homes, and the Board of Directors of the National Legal Center for the Medically Dependent and Disabled. He is author of the book Death As A Salesman: What’s Wrong With Assisted Suicide.
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.
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.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Euthanasia Bill passes California Assembly
Bill AB 2747 passed in the California Assembly by a vote of 42 to 34.
http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_9424815
This bill is a thinly veiled attempt to remove opposition to euthanasia by omission in California and is promoted as a bill that promotes palliative care options and end-of-life care information.
http://www.sunherald.com/447/story/592749.html
Nobody opposes good palliative care initiatives and information, but this bill mandates that a person who is given a one year life-expectancy will be informed and given the medical support to be intentionally dehydrated to death by the means of terminal sedation and dehydration.
If a physician is morally opposed to terminally sedation and dehydration of a person who is not actively dying or experiencing uncontrolled physical pain (euthanasia by omission), that physician is mandated to refer the patient to a physician who is willing to intentionally dehydrate the patient.
Bill AB 2747 represents the new strategy for Compassion & Choices, the leading euthanasia lobby group in the US.
Compassion & Choices has worked tirelessly in the past few years to legalize assisted suicide in California without success.
By mandating that palliative care become abused by the promotion of terminal sedation and dehydration for those who are not actively dying or suffering uncontrolled pain, they will achieve a significant part of their final goal of legalizing euthanasia.
For more information go to
http://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2008/05/toward-honest-talk.html
To intentionally cause death by dehydration is not assisted suicide but rather euthanasia.
Assisted suicide means that a person knowingly provides the means for someone to kill themselves. Death by dehydration requires a direct and active involvement in the death of the person and not simply a provision of the means.
Bill AB 2747 is simply unnecessary. The use of terminal sedation for people who are actively dying or experiencing intractable pain is considered an ethical option by nearly everyone. Access to good palliative care information and services are not legislative issues but rather budgetary issues.
This bill is about mandating the right to die by dehydration for people who are not near to death and who are not suffering from intractable pain.
This means that people who want to legalize euthanasia are in fact settling for half of their final goal with the hope that once death by dehydration becomes a common procedure, people will then demand death by injection because it is in fact a more compassionate way to die.
Californians need to recognize what Bill AB 2747 represents and strenuously oppose it.
A similar bill is also being debated in Vermont.
http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_9424815
This bill is a thinly veiled attempt to remove opposition to euthanasia by omission in California and is promoted as a bill that promotes palliative care options and end-of-life care information.
http://www.sunherald.com/447/story/592749.html
Nobody opposes good palliative care initiatives and information, but this bill mandates that a person who is given a one year life-expectancy will be informed and given the medical support to be intentionally dehydrated to death by the means of terminal sedation and dehydration.
If a physician is morally opposed to terminally sedation and dehydration of a person who is not actively dying or experiencing uncontrolled physical pain (euthanasia by omission), that physician is mandated to refer the patient to a physician who is willing to intentionally dehydrate the patient.
Bill AB 2747 represents the new strategy for Compassion & Choices, the leading euthanasia lobby group in the US.
Compassion & Choices has worked tirelessly in the past few years to legalize assisted suicide in California without success.
By mandating that palliative care become abused by the promotion of terminal sedation and dehydration for those who are not actively dying or suffering uncontrolled pain, they will achieve a significant part of their final goal of legalizing euthanasia.
For more information go to
http://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2008/05/toward-honest-talk.html
To intentionally cause death by dehydration is not assisted suicide but rather euthanasia.
Assisted suicide means that a person knowingly provides the means for someone to kill themselves. Death by dehydration requires a direct and active involvement in the death of the person and not simply a provision of the means.
Bill AB 2747 is simply unnecessary. The use of terminal sedation for people who are actively dying or experiencing intractable pain is considered an ethical option by nearly everyone. Access to good palliative care information and services are not legislative issues but rather budgetary issues.
This bill is about mandating the right to die by dehydration for people who are not near to death and who are not suffering from intractable pain.
This means that people who want to legalize euthanasia are in fact settling for half of their final goal with the hope that once death by dehydration becomes a common procedure, people will then demand death by injection because it is in fact a more compassionate way to die.
Californians need to recognize what Bill AB 2747 represents and strenuously oppose it.
A similar bill is also being debated in Vermont.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Toward Honest Talk
I read an excellent article by Marilyn Golden in the Capitol Weekly online explaining why California's Bill AB 2747 that is sponsored by Patti Berg needs to be defeated.
Marilyn Golden is a Policy Analyst at the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) which is the leading center on policy and law in relation to disability rights in the U.S.
Golden effectively explains how AB 2747 represents a change in strategy for the euthanasia lobby group compassion and choices (C & C). C & C have made several attempts to legalize assisted suicide since 2005.
Bill AB 2747 is designed to pave the way for the legalization of assisted suicide in California.
As a point of interest, there is a similar bill in Vermont that is also being sponsored by the euthanasia lobby groups.
Please go to the article by Golden at:
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_adctlid=v%7Cjq2q43wvsl855o%7Cx57q8rve5v4bj2&issueId=x4tyolqkrlw0m0&xid=x4u6470wbq8h4b
Marilyn Golden is a Policy Analyst at the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) which is the leading center on policy and law in relation to disability rights in the U.S.
Golden effectively explains how AB 2747 represents a change in strategy for the euthanasia lobby group compassion and choices (C & C). C & C have made several attempts to legalize assisted suicide since 2005.
Bill AB 2747 is designed to pave the way for the legalization of assisted suicide in California.
As a point of interest, there is a similar bill in Vermont that is also being sponsored by the euthanasia lobby groups.
Please go to the article by Golden at:
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_adctlid=v%7Cjq2q43wvsl855o%7Cx57q8rve5v4bj2&issueId=x4tyolqkrlw0m0&xid=x4u6470wbq8h4b
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