House Bill 2217 did not move after its public hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday morning, May 9, at the Oregon Capitol.
“This bill is so dangerous and poorly crafted that, for once, assisted suicide advocates agree with us,” says Lois Anderson, ORTL executive director. “We’ve been saying since this bill’s inception that it would place Oregonians in danger of euthanasia. This morning’s hearing further proved that.”
HB 2217 would increase the number of ways that the lethal drugs can be administered in a physician-assisted suicide, including intravenously, via injection, or through a gas mask.
“This process has resulted in the curtain being pulled back, revealing the plan for how doctors will be able to legally end people’s lives,” continued Anderson. “This bill’s sponsors and their supporting physicians are describing lethal injection. This bill would make it legal for unconscious people to be administered lethal medication. That is the very definition of euthanasia which is just another word for murder.”
To be clear, the bill still requires the terminally ill patient to self administer the medication. You have every right to oppose the concept, but please don’t stretch the truth quite so much.
Even the pro-assisted suicide groups said this bill would make it possible for others to administer the medication. We’re not stretching the truth at all unfortunately…