Bishops, Catholic hospitals oppose physician-assisted suicide proposal By Julie Sly, editor Catholic Herald , Sacramento California's Catholic bishops and the state's Catholic hospitals will oppose legislation introduced March 1 that would legalize physician-assisted suicide in California. The measure, sponsored by Assemblywoman Dion Aroner (DBerkeley), is similar to Oregon's physician-assisted suicide law, enacted in 1997, which allows terminally ill patients to ask a doctor for lethal medications to end their lives. Aroner said her bill "will provide people suffering from terminal illness the peace of mind to know that if their symptoms become so severe and debilitating, or their pain so great, they have the choice to end their suffering. " David Pollard, associate director for legislation and public policy at the California Catholic Conference in Sacramento, which represents the state 's bishops, said Aroner's bill "is not about compassion and choice. Vis ne*a question:Šf our failing in compassion to the dying. It's a question of the acceptance of the human condition of suffering. " Pollard said Catholic moral teach ing against physician aid4n~dying is "crystal clear." He added that the bishops have been working over the past few years to support legislation to aid terminally ill patients, including expanding hospice care and making it easier for patients to receive pain control medications. "Things that militate against a peaceful death and move people to look for an end to life should be addressed in any way we possibly can and morally can," Pollard said. "We must address pain control, financial pressures in health care and the lack of hospice care facilities—all of these militate against a peaceful death. " California voters in 1992 rej ected a ballot proposition that would have allowed physicians directly to BISHOPS, Page 9
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