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New Mexico Watchman Jose Vasquez
Thursday, February 16, 2017
HB 171 End of Life Options will be heard in the House Judiciary Committee
Friday, February 17, 2017 at
1:30 p.m. in Room 309.
1:30 p.m. in Room 309.
HB 171 End of Life Options allows any health care provider with a prescription credential to make available a lethal dose of drugs to a patient who is thought to be dying. The death bill will be heard by the House Judiciary Committee tomorrow, Friday, February 17 in Room 309.
New Mexicans for Ethical Medical Treatment has made available the following information regarding this bill. Please review and contact the committee members listed below with your concerns.
New Mexicans for Ethical Medical Treatment
Opposition to Assisted Suicide
- Assisted suicide decreases the value of human life.
- It would violate the doctor’s Hippocratic Oath and change the role of the doctor. The AMA opposes assisted suicide for this reason.
- It would open up many abuses, such as: assisting someone who is not really dying, assisting someone who is in depression, assisting someone who feels their existence is inconvenient to others, and lastly assisting the elderly who can be coerced.
- It encourages doctors and families to give up on hope of recovery and avoid heroic measures.
- Undue pressure can be put on the patients and doctors by insurance companies or the government.
- Doctors would be given too much power and can make the wrong diagnosis.
- Talking high doses of barbiturates is not a peaceful death
- Those with disabilities, mental problems, the elderly or those with chronic conditions would be a great risk.
- There is no requirement for a witness to be available at the time of death.
- Patients may not know all of the pain management choices.
- Heirs could gain their inheritances sooner, which might encourage assisted suicide.
New Mexicans for Ethical Medical Treatment. Call for more information @ 505-881-4563, WWW.NMEMT.ORG
Please contact members of the committee by email, phone, letter or in-person and express your opposition to HB 171. Urge them to vote NO on HB 171 End of Life Options.
New Mexico Legislature 2017
House Judiciary Committee
| Last Name | First Name | Position | Party | Room | Extn.* | Email Addr. |
| Chasey | Gail | Chair | D | 308 | 4411 | gail@gailchasey.com |
| Martinez | Javier | Vice Chair | D | 413C | 4436 | javier.martinez@nmlegis.gov |
| Alcon | Eliseo Lee | Member | D | 314B | 4425 | eliseo.alcon@nmlegis.gov |
| Brown | Cathrynn N. | Member | R | 204B | 4210 | c.brown.nm55@gmail.com |
| Cook | Zachary J. | Member | R | 205A | 4233 | zachary.cook@nmlegis.gov |
| Dines | Jim | Member | R | 205B | 4242 | jim.dines@nmlegis.gov |
| Egolf | Brian | Member | D | 104 | 4782 | brian.egolf@nmlegis.gov |
| Ely | Daymon | Member | D | 203DN | 4336 | daymon.ely@nmlegis.gov |
| Gentry | Nate | Member | R | 125 | 4757 | natefornm@gmail.com |
| Louis | Georgene | Member | D | 312A | 4327 | georgene.louis@nmlegis.gov |
| McQueen | Matthew | Member | D | 316A | 4421 | matthew.mcqueen@nmlegis.gov |
| Nibert | Greg | Member | R | 203E | 4211 | greg.nibert@nmlegis.gov |
| Rehm | William “Bill” | Member | R | 201B | 4214 | bill.rehm@nmlegis.gov |
* Dial 1 (505) 986 – plus the Representative’s extension.
