Friday, July 31, 2009

Catholic League: Bill implies federal government may become involved in euthanasia


Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, issued the following statement in response to Section 1233 of H.R 3200, the health care reform bill that was introduced in the House:


There is language in this section of the bill that implies that the federal government may become involved in euthanasia. So over the past two days, July 27-28, Catholic League staff contacted the following persons, committees or offices looking for clarification:

Rep. Nancy Pelosi; Rep. John Dingell; Rep. Rob Andrews; Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr.; Rep. Charles Rangel; Rep. Pete Stark; Rep. Henry Waxman; Rep. George Miller; Rep. Dale Kildee; Rep. Carolyn Maloney; Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius; HHS Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives; HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Aging; HHS Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legislation for Discretionary Health Programs; HHS Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legislation for Mandatory Health Programs; HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation; HHS Congressional Liaison Office; HHS Office of Human Services Policy; HHS Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy; HHS Office of Planning and Policy Support; HHS Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legislation for Human Services; Ways and Means Committee; Education and Labor Committee; Energy and Commerce Committee; Oversight and Government Reform Committee; Budget Committee; White House Health Reform Office.

No one with whom we spoke said the government is entering the business of euthanasia. But this is not enough. We need to know exactly what is meant by the following: “An explanation by the practitioner of the continuum of end-of-life services and supports available….” We also need to know exactly what is meant by “The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register proposed quality measures on end of life care and advanced care planning….” The public has a right to know exactly what is meant by terms like “end-of-life services” and “quality measures.” Now is the time to settle this issue.

Contact healthreform@hhs.gov


Related reading: New Hampshire: En Route to Mass Murder?



New Hampshire House Bill 304 (and especially Section XIII), is chilling. And brings to mind a decree issued by Adolph Hitler in October of 1939 and back dated to September 1, 1939, which widened, "the authority of certain physicians to be designated by name in such manner that persons who, according to human judgment, are incurable can, upon a most careful diagnosis of their condition of sickness, be accorded a mercy death."


Is that where health care in the United States is heading? Are we traveling a familar road to euthanasia?
Photo is of Hitler's euthanasia order.

3 comments:

Jocelyn said...

I thank God for your Blog and for the Catholic League and several other outlets. It seems like so many are asleep and cannot see what is going on. Thank you for your posts Mr. Melanson.

Anonymous said...

Hitler's decree stated that "persons who, according to human judgment, are incurable can.be accorded a mercy death." HB 304, in its definition of terminal, cites "human judgment" thusly: "in the opinion of the attending physician and consulting physician."

I am alarmed by this. We all should be. Men are playing God with these decisions. Where will it end? In the concentration camp? Genocide?

Michelle said...

Representative Charles Weed, who is from Keene, describes HB 304 as a "death with dignity" Bill. This is how dark many minds have become. Assisted suicide is viewed as "death with dignity." What doesthe Catechism have to say about suicide?

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