Just reading about this for the first time. Have not seen on local media.
I better start finding a place to hide. These dems/libs are dangerous.
Posted on 02/01/2007 3:59:57 PM PST by wagglebee
Honolulu, HI (LifeNews.com) -- The Hawaii state legislature is once again tackling the issue of assisted suicide and a state House committee will consider a bill soon that would make the state just the second to legalize the practice. Only Oregon has legalized assisted suicide and measures in several states, including Hawaii, have failed to add others to the list.
In 2002, a similar bill backed by then-governor Ben Cayetano (D), passed the House 30-20, but it was defeated in the Senate by only 3 votes.
Then in 2005, the state House Health Committee quickly voted down a bill to legalize assisted suicide.
That committee will hold another hearing in the next 10 days on a measure sponsored by its chairman, Democratic state Rep. Josh Green. He told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin newspaper that he met with party leaders and got his bill assigned to his committee.
"I'm going to hear it in the next 10 days because people deserve to have a hearing on things they're passionate about," Green said. "It's an emotional issue and it's a critical issue because we have to be safe with peoples' lives."
House Judiciary Vice Chairman Blake Oshiro, a Democrat, is a leading co-sponsor along with twelve other Democrats and two Republicans.
Meanwhile, Senate President Colleen Hanabusa introduced a companion bill (SB 1995) in the Senate, though no hearing has been scheduled on it.
Asked about the prospects of the bill, Green told the newspaper, "It's not a foregone conclusion whether it will pass or fail."
Pro-life groups again said they would strongly oppose the bill and they will be joined by medical groups and disability rights organizations.
Kelly Rosati, executive director of the Hawaii Family Forum, told the Star-Bulletin, "I think it's a proposal that's opposed by pretty much all of Hawaii's medical community, the disability rights community as well as by many in the faith community."
The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii says it supports the proposal.
During the last debate, Dr. William Petty, an oncologist, said patients facing death "are potential victims of subtle and not-so-subtle coercion."
"Care and treatment can be expensive," he added. "Manipulation of patients is a real problem when physician-assisted suicide becomes an option."
Michael Tada, who suffers from cerebral palsy, had a difficult time sharing his views against the bill.
Through an independent living aide, Tada said he thought the bill would legitimatize suicide and said he might not be alive now if allowed a doctor's help to end his life.
In addition to pro-life groups, the Hawaii Medical Association opposed the bill and Dr. Leonard Howard, past president of the group, said the bill "offers only one idea -- death."
Maybe it's like BJ Klintoon changing the definition of sex to suit his situation.
Sometimes debating the pro-death crowd is like a dog running across a frozen pond -- a lot of energy is burned up but you don't actually get anywhere.
But it can be good exercise...and makes you examine why you believe what you believe...I don't expect to change these people's beliefs, but merely to strengthen my own.
Just reading about this for the first time. Have not seen on local media.
I better start finding a place to hide. These dems/libs are dangerous.
Very true.
The shame is your state is the most beautiful place on earth, the only drawback is that it takes FOREVER to get there from the East Coast.
I know some of these "legislators". They have no qualifications, education, experience nor common sense.
They could very well could pass this.
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