January 25, 2024
WRITTEN TESTIMONY ON HF 1930
Dear Members of the Minnesota House Health Finance and Policy Committee,
Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony on HF 1930: “End of Life Option Established for Terminally Ill Adults.”
Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom is a national organization that exists to protect patient and doctor freedom. While supporters of the bill may attempt to make the case that this bill will advance freedom, we reject that claim and assert it will lead to:
- Compulsion and coercion for medical doctors, advanced practice registered nurses, and health care facilities
- Reduction in the standard of care for patients
- Degradation of the patient-doctor relationship
- Compelled speech rather than protection of freedom of speech
- Corruption of the practice of medicine
- Pressure on patients to end their lives if they feel they have become a burden.
HF 1930 does not protect the freedom of patients and doctors and, thus, we oppose the bill. Patients deserve to be treated with respect, dignity, and care at all stages of their life. In fact, the mission of medicine has its foundation within the Hippocratic Oath, in which physicians promise:
“I will prescribe regimen for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone. To please no one will I prescribe a deadly drug, nor give advice which may cause his death.”
There is nothing compassionate or caring about actively assisting a patient in ending their own life nor is it compassionate to compel doctors, nurses, and pharmacists to support a patients’ interest or attempt to commit suicide. Minnesota funds 12 suicide prevention grantees, and five 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Centers. The legislature spends millions of dollars to try to prevent suicide and help those who are suffering because it recognizes that these people need help and that the act of taking one’s life is bad, not good.
A terminal illness or having two practitioners sign off on a form does not suddenly change this reality. As the old adage goes: “Two wrongs do not make a right.” This bill is moving to create two classes of suicide: good suicide and bad suicide — and forcing practitioners to tacitly participate. We disagree.
Click on “Download PDF” to read the rest of the testimony.
April is “Truth About HIPAA” Month!