CFILC Legislative Priority

OPPOSE ASSISTED SUICIDE

CFILC, along with more than 40 disability rights, faith-based and

other organizations strongly opposes AB 374 (Berg).

CFILC is vigorously opposed to Assisted Suicide. The option of Assisted Suicide profoundly shifts the healthcare paradigm.

Assisted Suicide is susceptible to being used to contain healthcare costs.  Drugs used to induce death may cost as little as $50 compared to tens of thousands of dollars to provide long-term end of life care.

Assisted Suicide eliminates the urgency for finding solutions for end of life care, including homecare, hospice, assistive technology, and pain management.

Assisted Suicide does not offer a true healthcare "choice.  Emotional and psychological pressures can become overpowering. Financial considerations, added to the concern of "burdening" ones family, can serve as powerful forces leading people to feel guilty for not choosing death.

Assisted Suicide will disproportionately be offered as an option to people with disabilities, putting our community in harms way.