The first bill, SB 579, goes up for a vote Friday morning. If passed, it would eliminate the 15-day waiting period between a patient’s two requests for assisted suicide for someone with less than 15 days to live. If a physician waives the waiting period, the person can die the following day. The second bill, HB 2217, would change how the lethal drugs may be administered. Current interpretations of the law say the medication must be taken orally. Lawmakers want to expand the law to include IV, injection, or other methods so that patients who are unable to swallow or self-administer pills are also able to commit suicide.

READ: Doctor says assisted suicide leading insurance companies to deny treatments

Oregon Right to Life has spoken out against both bills. Lois Anderson, the organization’s Executive Director, highlighted the danger of the legislation in an email sent out Thursday. “Vulnerable Oregonians in medical crisis need protection and support. These bills would do the very opposite of that and place them in even greater danger,” said Anderson. “We will continue to stand guard and oppose legislation that puts innocent Oregonians at risk.”

The pro-life organization pointed out that both bills would make it much easier for people of malicious intent to victimize the sick, elderly, and vulnerable. “The word ‘taken’ was specifically chosen when the law was passed,” said Anderson. “It was selected so that it was clear that it was a conscious individual picking up the medication, placing it in their mouth and swallowing it. […] There is no safety mechanism in place to ensure that another person isn’t the one administering the medication.” As Anderson noted in an email, “Even activists in favor of physician-assisted suicide testified against HB 2217 because of the loopholes endangering Oregonians.”

The chipping away of restrictions on legalized euthanasia follows the disturbing slippery slope in countries like The Netherlands, where  people with dementia, autism, and other disabilities are vulnerable to euthanasia. “The process of bringing in euthanasia legislation began with a desire to deal with the most heartbreaking cases – really terrible forms of death,” said former Dutch euthanasia advocate-turned-skeptic Theo Boer, according to The Guardian. “But there have been important changes in the way the law is applied. We have put in motion something that we have now discovered has more consequences than we ever imagined.”

If pro-euthanasia advocates get their way in Oregon, at least one state in the U.S. will take a step toward fulfilling Boer’s somber prediction: “Look closely at the Netherlands because this is where your country may be 20 years from now.”

Seven states and the District of Columbia currently have legal assisted suicide laws.

“Like” Live Action News on Facebook for more pro-life news and commentary!

The first bill, SB 579, goes up for a vote Friday morning. If passed, it would eliminate the 15-day waiting period between a patient’s two requests for assisted suicide for someone with less than 15 days to live. If a physician waives the waiting period, the person can die the following day. The second bill, HB 2217, would change how the lethal drugs may be administered. Current interpretations of the law say the medication must be taken orally. Lawmakers want to expand the law to include IV, injection, or other methods so that patients who are unable to swallow or self-administer pills are also able to commit suicide.

READ: Doctor says assisted suicide leading insurance companies to deny treatments

Oregon Right to Life has spoken out against both bills. Lois Anderson, the organization’s Executive Director, highlighted the danger of the legislation in an email sent out Thursday. “Vulnerable Oregonians in medical crisis need protection and support. These bills would do the very opposite of that and place them in even greater danger,” said Anderson. “We will continue to stand guard and oppose legislation that puts innocent Oregonians at risk.”

The pro-life organization pointed out that both bills would make it much easier for people of malicious intent to victimize the sick, elderly, and vulnerable. “The word ‘taken’ was specifically chosen when the law was passed,” said Anderson. “It was selected so that it was clear that it was a conscious individual picking up the medication, placing it in their mouth and swallowing it. […] There is no safety mechanism in place to ensure that another person isn’t the one administering the medication.” As Anderson noted in an email, “Even activists in favor of physician-assisted suicide testified against HB 2217 because of the loopholes endangering Oregonians.”

The chipping away of restrictions on legalized euthanasia follows the disturbing slippery slope in countries like The Netherlands, where  people with dementia, autism, and other disabilities are vulnerable to euthanasia. “The process of bringing in euthanasia legislation began with a desire to deal with the most heartbreaking cases – really terrible forms of death,” said former Dutch euthanasia advocate-turned-skeptic Theo Boer, according to The Guardian. “But there have been important changes in the way the law is applied. We have put in motion something that we have now discovered has more consequences than we ever imagined.”

If pro-euthanasia advocates get their way in Oregon, at least one state in the U.S. will take a step toward fulfilling Boer’s somber prediction: “Look closely at the Netherlands because this is where your country may be 20 years from now.”

Seven states and the District of Columbia currently have legal assisted suicide laws.

“Like” Live Action News on Facebook for more pro-life news and commentary!

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