Conference Opposes Physician-Assisted Suicide

As discussion on physician-assisted suicide begins in the Legislature, it is an opportunity for Hawaii's people to reaffirm their commitment to care for those terminally ill and dying.

Catholic teaching tells us that all human life is a sacred gift from God, and as such the church has always opposed any practice that takes life.

The real issue at hand is end-of-life care.

As a society, what steps are being taken to make the last moments of life for the dying comfortable and painless? Are the terminally ill and dying treated with respect or are they made to feel like a burden to society? Is pain management adequately administered in our hospitals? Are patients fully aware of their options including hospice care.

The answers to these questions are far more important than do we allow physician-assisted suicide.

According to an Institute of Medicine special panel findings, Americans have come to fear that they will die alone and in distress and pain. Fears like these have furthered the cause for advocates of assisted suicide.

With proper end-of-life care and counseling, no one should fear a lonely, painful death.

Confusion between physician-assisted suicide and the right to refuse treatment must also be dispelled. Forgoing useless or disproportionately burdensome treatment is not the same as assisted suicide. The standard medical moral and legal practices allow the competent patient, or surrogate of an incompetent patient, to weigh the benefits and burdens of being treated, and then to select from alternative treatments or to refuse treatment all together.

While much needs to be done to properly care for the dying I physician-assisted suicide is not the answer and never will be. Constructive discussion on end-of-life care must begin to ensure the proper care of our dying and terminally ill in Hawaii.

HPACC members are:

• Hawaii Medical Association
• Hawaii Nurses Association
• Healthcare Association of Hawaii
• Hawaii Cancer Pain Initiative
• Not Dead Yet (Disability Rights Organization)
• Disability Rights Hawaii
• Hawaii Centers for Independent Living
• Hawaii Family Forum
• Hawaii Catholic Conference
• Hawaii Right to Life

6301 Pali Highway
Kaneohe, HI 96744-5224
Phone: (808) 203-6704
Fax: (808) 261-7022
hpacc@hpacc.org