By: Daniel Raven, Cronkite News Service
02/05/2008
Rep. Linda Lopez, D-Tucson, speaks Jan. 23 outside the
Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix. Lopez joined a group marching in support
of legislation that would allow doctors to prescribe drugs that the
terminally can use to end their laws. Lopez sponsored the bill.
PHOENIX - Rose Epstein of Sun City West says she deserves the right to die
like a dog.
"We have compassion on our dogs, but we don't allow people, who are more
than dogs, to make such an important decision for themselves," said Epstein,
who joined more than 100 demonstrators at a right-to-die march Jan. 23 at
the State Capitol.
"I believe that the issue of the right-to-die movement will be the civil
rights issue of our time," Rep. Linda Lopez, D-Tucson, told supporters and
onlookers.
Lopez is primary sponsor of HB 2387, a bill that would allow Arizona
physicians to prescribe lethal drugs to patients who have been diagnosed
with terminal illnesses. It's modeled on a physician-assisted suicide law
approved by Oregon voters.
According to the Ohio-based International Task Force on Euthanasia and
Assisted Suicide, a nonprofit organization opposed to assisted suicide,
nearly two dozen states have seen similar bills fail in the past several
years.
It's Lopez's sixth time introducing such legislation. This year's bill has
yet to be referred to a committee.
Peter Gentala, general counsel for the Center for Arizona Policy, a group
promoting conservative values, said a doctor's duty is helping patients
manage pain, not end their lives.
"The role of the physician is healer, so when you totally change that by
authorizing physicians to take peoples lives, it alarms people," Gentala
said.
Gentala noted that the Arizona Medical Association and American Medical
Association are against physician-assisted suicide.
Lopez said many Arizona doctors support physician-assisted suicide.
"Just like the Catholic Church doesn't speak for all Catholics, the Arizona
Medical Association doesn't speak for all its members," Lopez said.
Lopez said the measure may never reach committee but might wind up on the
ballot because of growing public support.