Physician assisted suicide bill dies in committee

Here is a report on the activity of the Hawaii Catholic Conference and the Hawaii Family Forum at the state legislative this session. Both groups work together tracking and addressing issues of importance to the Catholic Church and family concerns. This session is keeping us very busy.

Physician assisted suicide

Great news! The House Health Committee killed HB 675, which would have legalized physician assisted suicide, after a four-hour hearing in the capitol auditorium Feb. 7. The committee was overwhelmed with testimony opposing the bill, while proponent testimony was minimal. One estimate put the count at 195 opposed, 14 in favor.

Hawaii’s Partnership for Appropriate and Compassionate Care, an anti-suicide coalition led by Hawaii Family Forum and the Hawaii Medical Association, made a strong showing of physicians, disability rights advocates and pro-life leaders who expressed their grave concerns over the bill. Their primary fears was the degradation of the physician patient relationship; the “right to die” becoming a “duty to die” for our kupuna; the inability to protect against the abuse and coercion of the elderly and disabled; and the continued erosion of the sanctity and dignity of all human life.

Mahalo to all who got involved. It made a difference. Physician assisted suicide is dead for 2007. We have been stopping these attempts since 1998 and we will remain vigilant. As Scripture says, we must not grow weary in well doing.

Housing and homelessness

These issues are significant priorities for both the legislature and Gov. Linda Lingle’s administration as both are proposing significantly more money for emergency shelters, transitional units and a backlog of repairs on existing affordable housing units.

Catholic Charities Hawaii and the diocesan Office of Social Ministry are at the forefront of these discussions. Social Ministry’s priority proposal would provide funds for a much-needed emergency shelter and transitional units on the Big Island. Final resolution of many of the varying affordable housing and homelessness proposals will come at the end of the legislative session in April during conference committee negotiations.

Embryonic stem cell research

A proposal to make embryonic stem cell research and human cloning the official state policy of the state of Hawaii has stalled in the state senate. SB 1261 was not advanced after committee members learned that last year’s task force on the topic was never convened by the University of Hawaii Medical School because of concerns regarding insufficient state funds.

We were to have been participants in the task force but are pleased that the medical school has turned its attention away from state taxpayer funds for these purposes.

Safe haven for abandoned babies

We are again supporting legislation that would bring Hawaii into conformance with 47 other states that allow desperate birthmothers to leave their newborns at hospitals, police or fire stations without fear of prosecution. “Safe haven” laws in other states have saved the lives of many babies who otherwise would have been left to die in garbage cans or in places away from people who could save them. This proposal has overwhelming bi-partisan support.

As of this writing, we have testified on more than 40 proposals affecting life, marriage, families and the community. For more information, visit www.hawaiifamilyforum.org. To receive information on the status of bills, as changes occur, e-mail info@hawaiifamilyforum.org and ask to be added to the e-mail alert list.