Senator Barrett, Just Saying So Does Not Make It So.
http://missoulian.com/opinion/letters/regarding-active-euthanasia-just-saying-so-does-not-make-it/article_7328f832-d489-59c1-9b40-e68e79b69053.html
Regarding ‘active euthanasia,’ just saying so does not make it so.
Re: Senator Barrett’s letter of 4/20/18 “Bill doesn’t allow active euthanasia.”
Dear Senator Barrett, Thank you for the opportunity to assist you with the language of Hawaii’s HB 2739. Sections 23 and 24 state “ ….provider may assist in the administration of the medication…..”. This is the definition of active euthanasia by the American Medical Association. And just because the disclaimer at the end of the bill attempts to redefine what euthanasia is, does not make it so.
I agree that as you say it is difficult to refute my claims that several flaws in the language eviscerate touted safeguards, because the claims are based on the language of the bill.
Respectfully at your service,
Bradley Williams
President MTaas org
Hamilton
4/20/18 Senator Barrett’s Letter
Bill doesn’t allow ‘active euthanasia’
It is difficult to refute all the
false claims that Bradley Williams makes about Hawaii’s law providing for physician aid in dying (letter, April 2). But one claim in particular should not go unchallenged.
Williams states that in the Hawaii legislation, “active euthanasia is allowed (page 30, line 16 and page 33, lines 8 and 9), which makes this the most unsafe and subject to abuse of all the states.” This statement is entirely untrue. There is nothing in the bill allowing active euthanasia, and in fact, Section 18 specifically states that it does not authorize any person “to end a patient’s life by lethal injection, mercy killing or active euthanasia.” Read the bill here: www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2018/bills/HB2739_HD1_. pdf.
Since 2011, Williams and his organization have urged every legislature to undo the 2009 Montana Supreme Court decision which gave terminally ill Montanans access to aid in dying. In this effort, they have consistently misrepresented the experiences and laws of other states. We can probably expect them to try again in the 2019, and if so, can only hope they will avoid such misrepresentations. But judging from Williams’ letter, that isn’t likely to happen.
Sen. Dick Barrett, Senate District 45,
Montana Legislature, Missoula
