CA - Committee votes down assisted suicide bill (chairman Dunn votes no)

[Kadie]

Committee votes down assisted suicide bill
Greg Lucas, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau

Tuesday, June 27, 2006


(06-27) 19:07 PDT Sacramento -- Legislation allowing doctors to help terminally ill patients end their lives was defeated Tuesday after an emotionally charged hearing that drew 120 people to testify about life and suffering and whether modern medicine should be called upon to hasten death.

The bill failed in its first legislative hearing when the senator chairing the committee surprised supporters and voted against it. The action effectively ends the ability to pass the measure this year.

Sen. Joe Dunn, a Santa Ana Democrat, said he wrestled with his position on the controversial measure. During the last week, Dunn consulted with Orange County's bishop, who opposed the measure, and a University of California at Davis bio-ethics expert, who supported it.

Ultimately, Dunn said, he was afraid that in the future, "the power of money" would expand application of doctor-assisted suicide beyond terminally ill patients.

"In this society, in California and the United States, more often than not public policy decisions are driven unfortunately by money concerns," Dunn told the packed hearing room. "With a heavy heart, I will be a 'no' vote."

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