Former Borough Park State Senator Sponsors Assisted "Suicide" Bill

This bill is not the same bill as the assembly version, which may show that Savino/Hoylman and Linda Rosenthal are not working in conjunction with each other.

Both bill share some of the same evils (besides the overall concept) like allowing 1 of the 2 witnesses (that sign a form that the patient really wants to commit suicide) to be what they consider to be a biased party (relative or hospital worker).  Both bills don't consider someone who works for the patient's medical insurance company to be a biased witness!  Both bills do not mandate under all circumstances a psychological examination

both bills have evils that the other bill doesn't have.

for example in the assembly bill it says this when referring to the witnesses (the witness in this subsection is allowed to be the "non biased" witness) allowing the long term health care facility to appoint both witnesses (the other could be an employ)

4. IF THE PATIENT IS A PATIENT IN A LONG TERM CARE FACILITY AT THE TIME THE WRITTEN REQUEST IS MADE, ONE OF THE WITNESSES SHALL BE AN INDIVIDUAL DESIGNATED BY THE FACILITY.

the senate version of this bill does not have this evil clause.

another example of the assembly bill being worse then the senate bill is that the assembly bill allows the consulting physician to be one of the witnesses 

senate version

  4. NEITHER THE QUALIFIED  INDIVIDUAL'S  ATTENDING  PHYSICIAN  NOR  ANY
CONSULTING  PHYSICIAN  MAY  BE  A  WITNESS  TO  THE SIGNING OF A WRITTEN
REQUEST.

assembly version

3. THE PATIENT'S ATTENDING PHYSICIAN AT THE TIME THE REQUEST IS SIGNED SHALL NOT BE A WITNESS.

an example of the senate version being worse then the assembly version is the senate version forces doctor to falsify the death certificate which Forensic Pathologist in NJ said you [legislators] have taken forensic pathologists out of the picture” in this proposed law process, “so you will never know whether the death was coerced or voluntary” suicide.

the senate bill includes this evil law

2. THE CAUSE OF DEATH LISTED ON A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL'S DEATH CERTIFICATE WHO USES AID-IN-DYING MEDICATION WILL BE THE UNDERLYING TERMINAL ILLNESS.

Sen. Diane Savino sponsors bill to allow end-of-life law for terminally ill patients

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Defending what she described as a "basic human right," state Sen. Diane Savino who Borough Park helped elect has sponsored a bill to allow terminally ill adults in New York to end their life commit suicide, notice they can not even say the word suicide with the aid of medication.

The bill, called the New York End of Life Options Act the assembly version is called "death with dignity" liberals are very good at influencing public opinion by changing the names pro abortion turns in to "pro choice" same sex "marriage" turned into "marriage equality" and these bills are called such nice names as "aid in dying" "death with dignity" and end of life options", would allow a mentally competent which is only determined by a psychiatric examination if the patients doctor mandates it, terminally ill patient to request a prescription to end their life if their suffering becomes unbearable or even if they are not in any pain as there is no section in the bill that has anything to do with pain.

The patient's physician could prescribe "medication that the patient can self-administer which no one would ever know if it wasn't self administered to bring about a "peaceful" and "humane" death"  implying that living till God decides to take their life is not humane, as Rav Moshe Soloveichik said that if these bills pass this would be considered the "humane" approach and other methods like life, would be considered inhumane with all it's implications including the medical insurance companies, the bill states.

R Moshe Soloveitchik on Massachusetts's assisted suicide referendum 

The end-of-life rights of terminally ill patients became a national debate when Californian Brittany Maynard was diagnosed with a deadly form of brain cancer. Given six months to live, she decided to move to Oregon, where there is an end-of-life law otherwise known murder.

The 29-year-old ended her life in November with the assistance of physician-prescribed drugs.

The law that Ms. Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) and co-sponsor state Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) have drafted would require that two doctors diagnose a patient as terminal and two witnesses WHICH CAN BOTH BE EMPLOYEES OF THE PATIENTS MEDICAL INSURANCE COMPANY must confirm that the patient's request for the drugs is voluntary without a psychological examination.

Physician participation in prescribing the drugs is "voluntary "and the law would protect doctors from civil or criminal liability and other disciplinary action for fulfilling a patient's request.

"The option to end one's suffering when facing the final stages of a terminal illness should be a basic human right and more important than killing a patient who may not want to commit suicide, and not dependent upon one's ZIP code," Ms. Savino said. "With solid support for aid in dying notice how nice they make it sound how many people will mistake it for aid to the dying across every demographic how about religious?, I believe there will be strong bipartisan backing for this bill."  unfortunately this part may be true thanks to "moral" people voting republican blindly without realizing that some Republicans are worse then democrats.

The senator's bill is modeled after the Oregon law and other states where aid in dying is allowed in Oregon where medicaid refused to pay for chemotherapy but paid for poison.

Besides Oregon, aid in dying is authorized in Washington where only 3% of patients have a psychological examination, Montana, Vermont and New Mexico.


Since hearing of Ms. Maynard's case, lawmakers have introduced similar bills, or plan to so, in many other states, including California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Washington, D.C. New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts have introduced these bill before that.  all together this covers more than 90% of Orthodox Jews in America

Compassion & Choices who's founder Derek Humphry wrote a guide book on how to commit suicide that actually led to be people committing suicide, a nonprofit patients' rights group that advocates for end-of-life choices, has been pushing for lawmakers to sponsor bills for end-of-life laws.

Several years ago I got a call from a suburban police officer who sounded close to distraught.

He and his partner had just finished coming from the apparent suicide of a young woman who died of carbon monoxide poisoning in her family`s garage.

Among the young woman`s possessions, the officer had found a book. The book was called ``Let Me Die Before I Wake.`` 

``The book appears to be a guide to how to commit suicide,`` the officer said. ``It appears that the young woman may have read it before she killed herself.``

He wanted to know if such a book was legal. He said that it was written by a man named Derek Humphry, who was affiliated with something called the Hemlock Society. The police officer didn`t know if this was some sort of a cult, or what: ``It just seems wrong that people can read this stuff and learn how to kill themselves.``
(Chicago Tribune)

"As a key member of the Independent Democratic [Conference] in the New York State Senate, Sen. Savino is well positioned to gain bipartisan support for New York's aid in dying bill," said Barbara Coombs Lee, president of Compassion & Choices. so the jewish community in the 5 towns must tell Skelos if this bill passes they will vote him out of office

(silive.com) highlights our additions

Hoylman said Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) hasn’t indicated whether he’d support the bill. Cuomo’s office did not respond to a Huffington Post request for comment.

(Huffington post)

Colorado Votes Against Assisted Suicide

(Reuters) - After 10 hours of emotional testimony and debate, Colorado lawmakers late on Friday voted down a proposed assisted-suicide law that would have allowed terminally-ill patients to end their lives with prescription drugs.

By an 8-to-5 bipartisan vote, the so-called "Death with Dignity" bill was rejected by the Public Health and Human Services Committee in the state's House of Representatives. The measure was sponsored by two Democratic lawmakers.

"Supporting a concept and a bill are two different things," said committee chairwoman Dianne Primavera, a Democrat, during the hearing.

The right-to-die movement gained momentum last year after Brittany Maynard - a 29-year-old California woman with terminal brain cancer - went public with her move to Oregon, where assisted suicide is legal, to end her life. 

The Colorado proposal would have required two physicians to verify that the patient is terminal, had made both verbal and written statements of their intentions, and was able to self-administer the lethal medications.

Hundreds packed the committee room in Denver, as lawmakers heard testimony from both advocates and opponents of the measure.

Anita Cameron, who said she suffers from multiple disabilities, told the panel that the proposal lacked adequate safeguards.

"Doctors often make mistakes on whether someone is terminal or not," she said, adding that her mother was told six years ago that she had just six months to live.

Lawmakers also heard testimony from a retired Colorado physician, Charles Hatchette, who made a video in support of the measure shortly before he died from complications of Lou Gehrig's disease last month.

"There is more to life than just extending its length," Hatchette said on the video played for lawmakers.

Oregon, Montana, Washington, New Mexico and Vermont allow some form of assisted suicide, and similar legislation is pending in several other states.

A poll conducted last month by Colorado pollster Talmey-Drake Research showed 68 percent of state residents surveyed favored the bill.  

On Friday, the Supreme Court of Canada overturned that country's ban on assisted suicide.

(Reuters)

If Colorado can vote down assisted suicide so can NY, and NJ!

call your legislator today and tell them to vote against assisted suicide.

if your from NJ click here to find your senator

Linda Rosenthal Sponsors Assisted Suicide Bill In New York

Linda Rosenthal Sponsor of NY's Assisted Suicide Bill

We will give you more information on this bill as it develops

This bill currently has no sponsors but that could and most likely will change soon, there is no companion bill in the senate yet but State Senator Brad Hoylman (who overlaps with her partly) has already pledged to sponsor a bill

Everyone in NY should call their assemblyman and tell them to oppose this bill.

Letter from Rabbi Moshe Soleveitchik on Massachusetts's trying to pass assisted suicide

Why's Aguda Posing For A Picture With A Senator Who Voted For Assisted Suicide

This picture was included in agudah's weekly press release from when NJ's assisted suicide bill passed the senate committee.

 Bob Gordon Voted for the bill in committee Why would agudah pose for a picture with him in a press release on assisted suicide when he voted for the assisted suicide?

Furthermore this wasn't even their top alert but 3rd?????

This is agudahs press release (highlighted portions are additions)


As some members of the New Jersey legislature work to make the Garden State the sixth state to allow physician-assisted suicide for terminally-ill patients, Agudath Israel of America is at the "forefront" of "aggressively" fighting that devastating move. when money was at stake they sent bus loads of people down to Trenton, how many did they send for this?



The "Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act" passed the State Assembly with 41 votes - the minimum needed agudah did not lobby this, they were to busy with the convention - last month, and is now up for a full vote on the Senate floor. In the event that it passes the Senate, the decision would fall on Governor Chris Christie whether to sign or veto the bill.



On Monday, Rabbi Avi Schnall, New Jersey Director of Agudath Israel of America as did the OU who in my personal opinion gave a stronger speech (should have all speeches up soon) and 2 other Orthodox Jews, expressed Torah Jewry's vehement opposition to the proposed law before the Senate Health Committee members. Rabbi Schnall told the Committee of Agudath Israel's long history of representing Torah observant Jews in America - and why this battle is particularly important: "Informed by classical Jewish tradition which teaches that all human life is sacred, and possessed of the firm view that laws that undermine the sanctity of human life send a message that is profoundly dangerous for all of society, Agudath Israel's interest in the issue of legalizing suicide is especially keen." does agudah feel the need to justify their involvement when dealing with other issues 



In addition to articulating the religious and moral opposition to physician-assisted suicide, Agudath Israel's testimony laid out a clear legal case for the government to ban the practice, the legal case? the law already bans it and noted that even some who support the bill from the medical community oppose the idea of allowing physicians to participate in a patient's decision to end his or her life. if aguda was the only ones speaking that would make sense but many in medical community were there opposing the bill, in fact of all the people who testified 28 (including many in the medical field) spoke against the bill, and only 3 for it.



Agudath Israel is also engaged in an aggressive lobbying campaign among individual state legislators to encourage them to vote against the law. We urge the public to contact their local legislators as well and encourage them to vote against the bill. why don't they give people the phone numbers (click here to find your district and call your senator) also mention (and mean) that your voted depend on it or they will not care about your opinion because the left is also lobbying and the senators know they mean business 



Rabbi Schnall says that, per the directive of the organization's Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America (Council of Torah Sages), the law presents a threat beyond its immediate repercussions. "If it becomes law, the assisted suicide bill can directly imperil even Orthodox Jews who would not willingly choose death, Heaven forbid," says Rabbi Schnall. "There is a very real concern of a slippery slope, where doctors, hospitals and insurers can pressure patients diagnosed with a terminal illness, people suffering from mental illness, and individuals with disabilities to make the wrong choice."
(Agudas press release) highlights our additions

It seems to us that their main objective is to tout agudah not fight the bill.

3 Senators Vote In Favor Of Assisted Suicide Bill Before Hearing On The Bill Was Even Over

look at how little the senators care about his most important testimony

Senator Sweeney was speaking to Senator Madden after the committee hearing before they proceeded with the official vote. Was he trying to force Senator Madden to vote for the bill?  Or giving Senator Madden permission to vote against the bill?

3 members of the committee Robert Gordon, Richard Codey, and Republican (see being a Republican doesn't equal being good on these issues) Dawn Marie Addiego voted in favor the assisted suicide bill before the hearing was over.

Unfortunately both democrats, Robert Gordon (Fair Lawn, Paramus, and Bergenfield) Richard Codey (Livingston, Maplewood, and West Orange) who voted for the bill before the hearing was over represent Jewish districts.  (see what happens when you vote for low lives)

Robert Gordon who left more then 45 minutes before the hearing was over said before he left he said "Mr Chairman, I have to get up to Bergen County in time for a commitment in about an hour, so I'm going to have to leave, but before I did, I wanted to just leave my vote and make a statement, and that is, that if this bill were heard on the floor I would vote against it, however in the interest of allowing the process to go forward, and to broaden the debate, allow my colleagues to have a chance to way in, I will be voting to release it, but at this point I am very much against the concept, and will vote no on the floor, and so with that I just want to thank everyone who appeared here to today, for your patience for those who are still waiting,  and I can tell that your testimony has been very helpful to all of us on a very difficult subject, so thank you all very much."

Dawn Parkot with her father (pictures not from yesterdays hearing)

The wickedness of Gordon is very apparent because the person who "spoke" right after Gordon left for his non pikuach nefesh (life saving) commitment, was Dawn Parkot (read her bio it's very inspiring) of the climb organization, who unfortunately had to have her father speak instead of her, because the battery died to the machine that helps her speak. The fact that this woman unfortunately may be a prime person who may be killed under this bill because with out a machine she couldn't speak, without a her strong family she may well have been someone who this bill would unfortunately murder.

BH 2 democrats Fred H. Madden, and Ronald Rice voted against this bill in the committee, yet out of the 3 Republicans only 1 Robert Singer from Lakewood voted against this bill (Diane Allen didn't vote), meaning that if 2 more Democrats vote the right way and there are no more Republican traitors, this bill will fail. we can defeat this bill so call you senator and make sure they vote against this evil bill

all this can be heard on the tape of the session  (to hear Gordon's exit session listen to 4:07:54) a Orthodox Jew later in the hearing strongly attacked the fact that Gordon left before the end of the testimony on a bill that will cause people to die.

Democrat Ronald Rice represents

Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Newark, Nutley

PHONE NUMBER:

(973) 371-5665

Democrat Fred H. Madden represents
Chesilhurst, Clementon, Gloucester Township,Laurel Springs, Lindenwold, Monroe Gloucester), Pitman, Washington (Gloucester),Winslow 

please call both of them up to thank them for their support

PHONE NUMBERS:

(856) 232-6700 (Turnersville) (856) 401-3073 (Laurel Springs)

Click here and find your town to call for your state senator and urge the to vote against this evil bill
 make sure to tell them your votes depend on it

After emotional hearing, reluctant N.J. Senate panel releases 'Aid in Dying' bill
By Susan K. Livio | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on December 15, 2014 at 8:20 PM, updated December 16, 2014 at 10:03 AM
N.J. SENATE


TRENTON — After more than four hours of testimony from an emotional and at times combative audience that warned lawmakers they would diminish the value life for sick and disabled people, a state Senate committee today "reluctantly" approved a bill that would allow terminally ill patients to get prescription drugs to end their lives.

The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee voted 4-3 actually it was 5-3 as can be seen on the bottom to let the “Aid in Dying” bill to proceed to the full 40-member Senate, but did so in a way that registered committee members concern and uncertainty by approving it "without recommendation." in short it's a political gimmick so the senators can play you the voter as a fool

Sens. Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic), Robert Gordon (D-Bergen) and Chairman Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex) voted yes to allow to the bill to move forward, but agreed they would have voted no had it come up for a vote in the full Senate today but if it comes up in a week they will only not vote for it if they have the votes without them.

"I'm not sure there are enough safeguards in place" to prevent the law from being abused so that's why I moved the bill out of the committee that amends bills, in order to help pass the bill without those safeguards , Vitale said

Noting he has seen a spate of suicides by distraught teens, Vitale said he worried "the message this might be sending to young people. When we pass laws like this, will they understand the difference, the nuance, that taking a life is okay under certain circumstances?" please explain to me the "difference, the nuance" between voting for the bill in committee and voting for it on the floor

Senate President Stephen Sweeney, (D-Gloucester), who co-sponsored the bill with Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), said he would not call a vote on the measure Thursday, the last scheduled session before the end of the year which means if we lobby hard we can stop this bill remember the opposition is going to lobby every single day. Sweeney said he and other supporters would embark on an "educational campaign" to discuss the matter with colleagues. translation vote for the bill or loos your committee chairmanship

The bill is written for people with a terminal illness, defined as an incurable, irreversible and medically confirmed disease that will end the person's life within "six" months.

Patients suffering from a terminal disease who want to end their lives would have to first verbally request a prescription from their attending physician, followed by a second request at least 15 days later and one request in writing signed by two witnesses, according to the bill (A2270) that passed the Assembly last month. The patient's physician would have to offer the patient a chance to rescind their request, and a consulting physician would then be called upon to certify the original diagnosis and reaffirm the patient is capable of making a decision. This bill does not even require the patient to have a psychiatric evaluation.

Family "doctor" Stephan Sher of Mt. Arlington, one of the few people who urged the committee to pass the bill, acknowledged many of his colleagues may disagree with him. "But let's be honest. Aid in dying is no great leap from what already occurs in medical practice today – the morphine drip," Sher said. "Yes the intent is to relieve pain, but you know what the outcome will be: death."

"As a physician, I support aid in dying because the very availability of the option enhances communication between "doctor" and patient," Sher added. "It promotes outcomes in line with the patient's wishes and desires, whether that's hospice, palliative care, or aid in dying. It should be up to the patient."  After being asked by a senator about cases of misdiagnosis, and people who after a diagnosis take their life well before any symptoms start to show up. "DR" Sher answered "Well this may not be a politically correct answer, but I sat here all day and I'm going to give it to you as I see it. If this enactment occurs, this would be from my point of the first rung in a ladder to the autonomy that people should have. I don't really believe we should be terminal in 6 months, I spent half of a century almost, dealing with putting people in to palliative care, and into hospice and out of hospice, by the way I'm a big big fan of both of those avenues, but the point is, when the individual with the clear mind decides that he's traveled this path long enough, I feel it's not my responsibility to deal with whether it is 6 month or 4 months, if he or she feels they've had enough here. I'm a good example, I'm 78 years old, I'm in pretty good health, I love life, I've raised my children, I've taken care my wife, and any of you who were physicians would know that I was her primary care physician ever since she got a liver transplant and through out the medical community that's a no-no, I'm generally known as DR ? hemorrhoid  ? you can decide why yourself alright, the point is I've done my task, I've really been the luckiest guy in the world.  I had a great life, my children are OK, and I'm 78, actuarially I'm done. So I don't really need to live much longer, particularity when I may end up, and this is another no-no, but I may end up being a burden, I have a relative of mine whose bedridden and can't get out of bed, her children come to visit her once a week and I know that they feel guilty cause they don't go twice a week, and I know that if they went twice a week they'll feel guilty because they didn't go every day, so if I put myself in her position, I rather leave now, I rather leave, I  don't want to stay on the top of my game but I want my children to remember me the way I am, not looking down at me having to change their life, their life has to go on, my life has been imminently successful and it's OK if I go now.

Maria V. Arvonio, a nurse and medical ethicist who chairs the National Association of Catholic Nurses, was one of many opponents from the medical field who argued patients may be making decisions based on flawed information. in short patients who got the drug in both Washington state and Oregon have lived almost 2 years after getting the poison.

"When did healthcare (workers) become astrologers able to foresee the future? How often are we put to shame basically because a person has lived longer than our medical expectations?" Arvonio asked. "If patients are allowed to make an autonomous and informed consent when choosing physician assisted suicide, is there decision tainted by coercion by fear of the unknown, such as death or the need to be dependent on others?"

Bernard J. Ernst, 60, of Toms River presented himself as a patient who has outlived five terminal diagnoses, including the latest that said he should have died two years ago. He has suffered 12 strokes, and his heart has stopped twice, he said.

"Guess what? I am still here," he said. "Don't let my pleasant and smiling appearance misguide you. I am in severe and agonizing pain 24-7. I was raised to 'offer up my pain,' and so I shall. I will enjoy every day on earth."

Opponents - some traveling as far as Seattle and New England states - quoted scripture and Martin Luther King Jr. Some wept, and one person raised his voice at the committee, exclaiming that passing the legislation was like condoning homicide this seems was same person who attacked Gordon for leaving, after pointing out how this bill would allow people to be murdered on willingly under this bill, and that the committee was not listening to all the reasons how this will lead to the murder of people who did not want it. More than one dozen people in wheelchairs and motorized scooters waited for hours to get their chance at the microphone.

The bill has drawn the ire of many people with physical and developmental disabilities and their advocates. Curtis Edmonds, a managing attorney at Disability Rights New Jersey, a federally-funded legal advocacy organization, warned that such a law would define "what is perceived as an acceptable quality of life... and death as an obligation rather than autonomy."

The health committee held a hearing on the bill last week with invited guests only.

Correction: Senate President Stephen Sweeney said he will not post the bill for a vote on Thursday. Because of a typographical error, an earlier version of this story said it would be be ready for a vote.

(nj.com) highlights our additions

yellow have a large Jewish Community in their district yet still voted the wrong way

pink means their a Republican yet still voted the wrong way

blue means a democrat who voted the right way

Committee Voting:
SHH  12/15/2014  -  r w/o rec. Sca  -  Yes {5}  No {3}  Not Voting {1}  Abstains {0}  -  Roll Call

	Vitale, Joseph F. (C) - Yes	Madden, Fred H., Jr. (V) - No	Addiego, Dawn Marie - Yes
	Allen, Diane B. - Not Voting	Codey, Richard J. - Yes	Gordon, Robert M. - Yes
	Rice, Ronald L. - No	Singer, Robert W. - No	Whelan, Jim - Yes

call Robert Gordon Phone: (201) 703-9779 and/or Phone: (201) 374-2205 

and Richard Codey (973) 535-5017

and ask them how come they voted for a murder bill

we plan in the near future to show audio highlights from the committee hearing.

Assisted Suicide Bill To Come To New York

New York senator proposes law to allow terminally ill to seek suicide with doctor support

EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Brad Hoylman of Manhattan is seeking support for a bill that permits a doctor to prescribe lethal medication to terminally ill adults who wish to take their own lives. Religious groups are fighting the proposal.

ALBANY — A Manhattan state senator wants to make New York the fifth state to allow assisted suicide for the terminally ill.

Democrat Brad Hoylman said his proposed law would permit doctors to prescribe lethal "medication" to terminally ill adults who want to take their own lives.

In a memo seeking co-sponsors call your state senator and tell them to oppose assisted "suicide" , Hoylman cited the case of Brittany Maynard, the terminally ill California woman who became the public face of the right-to-die movement when she moved to Oregon to end her life under that state's "Death With Dignity Act."

Maynard, who had an aggressive form of brain cancer, took her life on Nov. 1.

“This bill will give capable adults who have been given a terminal medical prognosis a measure of control over their end-of-life care options,” Hoylman wrote in his memo, which was obtained by the Daily News.

But the proposal faces fierce opposition from religious groups.

“We knew the fight was coming,” said the Rev. Jason McGuire, executive director of New Yorker’s Family Research Foundation, an evangelical Christian group.

The New York Catholic Conference will also strongly oppose the Hoylman bill, spokesman Dennis Poust said.

“We believe the so-called death with dignity movement is predicated on the false notion that there is something undignified about a natural death,” Poust said. “We don’t buy that.”

Poust said people who are diagnosed with months to live often defy expectations, and that the fear and depression felt by terminally ill patients can cloud their judgment.

The key provisions of Hoylman’s bill are modeled after the Oregon law.

Under his proposed Death With Dignity Act, a person seeking assisted suicide would have to be at least 18 and be given no more than six months to live some patients have been known to live almost  2 years after getting the poison.

The individual would have to make written and oral requests to a physician, and follow up with another verbal request at least 15 days later. The patient also must be deemed capable of making and communicating health care decisions, meaning advanced Alzheimer’s patients wouldn’t qualify.

In other states, a person is given a fast-acting lethal barbiturate. Hoylman’s proposal does not yet specify a method of suicide.

But doctors assisting in a suicide would be immune from criminal or civil liability if they acted in "good" faith.

In New York, people on both sides of the approaching debate agreed Tuesday that approval of Hoylman’s bill is unlikely in 2015.Assisted suicide is legal in Oregon, Washington, Vermont and Montana, and New Jersey and California Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Connecticut have been debating the issue.

“But it gets the conversation going,” said George Eighmey, vice chairman of the Death with Dignity National Center.

In Oregon, 752 people have died under the Death With Dignity Act in the 16 years it’s been in palce, including 71 people in 2013. That’s a small percentage of the number of terminally ill people, but the fact that legal suicide is possible gives many people comfort, Eighmey maintained.

“The purpose is to give people facing end of life one more option,” Eighmey said.

Hoylman in his letter to the other senators said he recognizes the “legitimate profound emotional considerations and ethical and religious concerns surrounding this issue.”

But he said his legislation will include “strong protections” to ensure patients are capable of making sound, informed decisions while doctors, hospitals and pharmacists who object to the law are under no legal obligation to participate.

(daily news) highlights our additions

NJ Going To Vote On Assisted "Suicide" Tomorrow

לא תעמד על דם רעך

If you live in NJ call both your legislators today
call (609) 847-3905 ask for both the legislators in your district

Letter from Rav Moshe Soloveichik on Massachusetts vote for assisted "suicide" in 2012

Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky paskened today that We are mechuyuv to fight this bill


TRENTON — The state Assembly on Thursday is scheduled to vote on a bill that would allow doctors to prescribe murder life-ending drugs to terminally ill patients, just two weeks after Oregon cancer patient Brittany Maynard ended her life.

Assembly Democratic spokesman Tom Hester, Jr. confirmed that the bill — dubbed the “Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act" — would go up on Thursday after a group that opposes it, the New Jersey Alliance Against Doctor-Prescribed "Suicide", said so on Facebook.

The vote comes as the national debate on physician-assisted "suicide" has grown more intense. Maynard, who was terminally ill with an inoperable brain tumor, made national headlines when she announced she would take a lethal dose of drugs legally prescribed by a doctor under Oregon’s “Death with Dignity” law, which the New Jersey bill is modeled after.

Maynard, who had moved from California to Oregon to take advantage of the law, took the pills and died on Nov. 1.

This is Democrats’ second attempt to pass the bill. It had been scheduled for a vote in June but was pulled from consideration at the last minute because of lack of support.

The bill’s sponsor, Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester), said he thinks the publicity surrounding Maynard has helped the bill gain momentum.

"The short answer is, I think so. Because more people are interested in talking about it because it drew so much attention to the issue," he said.

Burzichelli said it’s not a sure thing he’ll muster the 41 votes needed to pass it this time and that he’ll keep trying until he can that is why the left keeps winning they are fighters.

"I would say we’re very close to the 41 votes," Burzichelli said. "If not this week, it’s just a question of at what point."

A companion bill in the state Senate BH has not advanced.

Under the bill (A2270), patients who want to end their lives would have to first verbally request a prescription, followed at least 15 days later by another verbal request and one in writing, signed by two witnesses. After that, the doctor would have to offer the patient a chance to rescind the request. A second doctor would then have to certify the original doctor’s diagnosis and affirm that the patient is acting voluntarily and capable of making the decision.

Aside from Oregon, two states — Washington and Vermont — permit doctors to write lethal prescriptions for terminally-ill patients.

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