DENVER – State lawmakers on Wednesday decided not to pursue a vote on legislation that would have allowed terminally ill patients to request life-ending medication.
It became apparent after a caucus meeting earlier in the week that the sponsors of the legislation did not have the votes to send the bill through the Democratic-controlled House and onto the Republican-controlled Senate, where it also faced an uphill battle.
The issue crossed political lines, with a handful of Republicans and Democrats expressing concerns about an issue that tested moral boundaries for some lawmakers.
Sponsors were livid that they couldn’t convince colleagues to have the full debate without agreeing to several amendments that they felt would have weighed the bill down.
“I’m sorry that we could not help you. I’m sorry that our state Legislature has failed you,” Rep. Joann Ginal, D-Fort Collins, a sponsor of the bill, said to patients. “We will continue to educate and to build support in your honor, and in the honor of those who testified last year and those who are no longer with us.”
Similar legislation last year also failed.
Rep. Lois Court, D-Denver, was more forceful, admonishing her fellow lawmakers for resisting the proposal, which came at a time when many lawmakers are up for re-election.
“The choice we made today was to give you the relief from having to have this conversation because we know many of you have deeply held convictions that make you uncomfortable with this bill,” Court said. “We are doing you this favor to not have this debate.”
Opponents call the program “assisted suicide,” to the ire of proponents. They point to religious concerns and possible unintended consequences.
Critics raise fears that the legislation would lead to elder abuse, in which a patient’s heir might push for end-of-life options for financial gain. They also suggest that doctors might misdiagnose how long a person has to live.
Despite the concerns, polling taken last month by Boulder-based Talmey-Drake Research and Strategy Inc. highlighted that 65 percent of Coloradans support the effort.
Proponents are expected to take the issue to a statewide ballot.
Dr. Lauri Costello, a family practitioner who recently moved to Durango, has been fighting for end-of-life options since moving from Washington, where patients have had access to life-ending medication since 2009.
After having testified in support of the bill when it was in committee, Costello said she was disappointed to see it fail without full debate.
“It’s going to be pretty shameful for the Legislature when the people pass this,” Costello said. “These legislators say they’re representing their constituents, but all they’re doing is saying. ‘I don’t believe in this, therefore I’m not going to vote for it; I’m not even going to give you the option to believe in it.’”
pmarcus@durangoherald.com