Group Urges Congress to Reject Legislation to Repeal D.C. Death with Dignity Act
Compassion & Choices urged Congress to reject a policy rider to a
government funding bill approved by a House Subcommittee today that would repeal D.C.’s Death with Dignity Act (see policy rider on
page 165).
The House Financial Services Subcommittee today approved the policy
rider as part of the fiscal year 2019 Financial Services and General Government
appropriations bill.
Similar to laws in
seven states, the D.C. Death with Dignity Act gives mentally
capable, terminally ill adults with six months or less to live the option to
get prescription medication they can take to end unbearable suffering and die
peacefully in their sleep.
Congressional
opponents of medical aid in dying tried to repeal the law in February 2017 during a 30
legislative day review period and during last year’s appropriations
process, but they failed both times.
“It’s time for
opponents of medical aid in dying to recognize that this issue has been debated
and decided,” said Kim Callinan, CEO for Compassion & Choices, which led
the campaign to pass the D.C. Death with Dignity Act. “The important news for
D.C. residents is the law remains in effect, and we are working collaboratively
with the D.C. Department of Health to make it easier for terminally ill
patients to access the law.
Medical
aid in dying has been practiced safely with no evidence of misuse for more than
40 combined years in seven states representing nearly one-fifth (19%) of the
nation̵...
Source: blog.bioethics.net - Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Thaddeus Mason Pope, JD, PhD Tags: Health Care syndicated Source Type: blogs
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