Hawaii Senate Approves Controversial Assisted Suicide Bill
The Hawaii Senate has approved a controversial assisted suicide bill, SB 1129 SD1, despite opposition from religious leaders and advocacy groups. The bill, modeled on Oregon's Death with Dignity Act, allows terminally ill adults to request a fatal prescription of drugs.
State Sen. Rosalyn Baker, a supporter of the bill, believes it gives people the choice to die on their own terms. However, State Sen. Breene Harimoto, who voted against the bill, shared his personal experience with cancer and emphasized the value of life and hope.
Bishop Larry Silva of Honolulu linked assisted suicide to the 'throwaway culture' criticized by Pope Francis in his letter to the Catholics of Hawaii. Deacon Walter Yoshimitsu, executive director of the Hawaii Catholic Conference, argues that the bill undermines the trust between physicians and patients. Currently, five U.S. states allow assisted suicide.
The bill will now proceed to the House of Representatives for debate in committee, with Eva Andrade, president of the Hawaii Family Forum, expressing strong opposition and raising concerns about elder abuse if it becomes law. Despite criticism from opponents, the Hawaii Senate has strongly supported the assisted suicide bill.
The debate on assisted suicide in Hawaii continues as the bill moves to the House of Representatives. Supporters see it as a matter of personal choice, while opponents raise concerns about trust and potential abuse. The outcome of the House committee debate remains uncertain.
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