Assisted suicide proposal spurs emotional testimony in Carson City
Las Vegas SunApr 08, 2021
Apr. 8—CARSON CITY — Lawmakers in an emotional committee hearing on Wednesday discussed legalizing assisted suicide for terminal patients in
Assembly Bill 352 would legalize assisted suicide in the cases of patients given no more than six months to live.
Assemblyman
"In a very selfish way, I applauded it and I think the reason I did was because for a long time ... I've always associated (death) with how it relates to me," Flores said. "And I think I realized that I needed to really go on the other side of that conversation and that's where it hit me. That it's not about me, it's not about you, it's not about the family member, it's not about how everybody in that room feels, but rather that individual who suffered every second."
Nine states and
It would allow Nevadans over age 18 who have been diagnosed by two doctors with a terminal disease that will kill them within six months to request medication that would end their life. While doctors could prescribe the medication, the patient would have to take it themselves.
A doctor would not be able to prescribe the drugs without first determining that the patient is mentally competent to make the decision and has not been coerced into the decision. If a doctor raises concerns about a patient's competency, they would have to refer them to a mental health professional.
A patient could opt out at any time, and doctors would not be required to prescribe the medication.
Sen.
"Some were cancer patients who wanted to have peace of mind knowing they could control their final days, others wanted the assurance that after exploring all traditional options, a legal, safe and peaceful option would be available to them to control the end of their life on their own terms," Parks said.
Groups including the
"Steve's last 24 hours were horrific," she said. "He was in a tremendous amount of pain and I scrambled to get him enrolled in hospice."
Others opposed the bill.
"I need you to understand that if the only alternative is death .... for people who require assisted suicide is poverty and segregation and nursing homes, then it makes no sense to talk about assisted suicide as a choice," said Hammon, wearing a pin that said "kill the pain, not the patient."
Callister raised concerns that assisted suicide could offer insurance companies a cheaper option in terminal cases and that some patients could feel pressured to take the option.
"The real story here ... is when does your right to die become some person's duty to die? This is not a medical treatment, this is assisted death, let's make that very clear," Callister said.
Flores, in closing comments, said that he does not take the conversation lightly.
"I come before you ... and engage in a very personal and very complex conversation that a whole host of other states are now engaging in, that we can use and study and continue to evolve and grow in this particular subject matter," Flores said.
The bill was not voted on during the Wednesday hearing, and no further hearings are scheduled. The bill must pass through committee by Friday evening, or it will die due to legislative deadlines.
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