To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE


SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

Judge Rules California's Assisted Suicide Law is Unconstitutional

Alexandra Snyder : May 16, 2018  Life Legal Defense Foundation

Although it's a huge victory, please pray, as it is anticipated that California's Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, will appeal the ruling.

(Napa, CA)—[Life Legal Defense Foundation] A California judge overturned the state's assisted suicide law this morning, ruling that the legislature acted outside the scope of its authority when it enacted the End of Life Option Act. (Photo: Life Legal attorneys with Stephanie Packer and her children/Credit: Life Legal Defense Foundation)

The Act's sponsors introduced the bill in a special session of the legislature convened by Governor Jerry Brown to address Medicaid funding shortfalls, services for the disabled, and in-home health support services.

Life Legal attorneys appeared in court this morning to argue that the End of Life Option Act, which decriminalizes physician-assisted suicide, is not related or even incidental to the stated purpose of the special session. Suicide is not health care.

Riverside Superior Court Judge Daniel Ottolia agreed, holding that "the End of Life Option Act does not fall within the scope of access to healthcare services," and that it "is not a matter of health care funding."

Life Legal filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings in March 2018, arguing that the law should be overturned because the manner in which it was passed is unconstitutional. We have argued from the outset that suicide has nothing to do with the provision of health services.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra opposed our motion, stating that legislation passed during special sessions is presumed to be constitutional. The Attorney General also argued that Life Legal's plaintiff physicians do not have standing to challenge the End of Life Option Act.

Judge Ottolia ruled that doctors do have standing to bring challenges on behalf of their patients, especially in this case, as terminally ill patients would face significant difficulties filing their own lawsuits against the Act.

"We are thrilled by today's ruling, which reinstates critical legal protections for vulnerable patients," said Life Legal Defense Foundation Executive Director Alexandra Snyder. "The court made it very clear that assisted suicide has nothing to do with increasing access to health care and that hijacking the special session to advance an unrelated agenda is impermissible."

Stephanie Packer, who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, was present at the hearing. After the End of Life Option Act was implemented, Stephanie's insurance company denied coverage of life-saving chemotherapy treatment, but said it would pay for "aid-in-dying" drugs, which would cost $1.20. (Photo: Stephanie Packer/via Life Legal Defense Foundation)

Stephanie has spoken out against assisted suicide in California and other states, saying, "I am so grateful that California's assisted suicide law was overturned today. The bill's proponents tout dignity, choice, compassion, and painlessness. I am here to tell you that nothing could be further from the truth. Choice is really an illusion for a very few. For too many, assisted suicide will be the only affordable 'treatment' that is offered them."

It is anticipated that Attorney General Becerra will appeal [yesterday's] ruling.







SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News

Israel Strikes Iran, Targeting Nuclear Facilities; Iran Responds

Signs & Wonders in Egypt: Imam Meets Jesus in Dream, Bleeding Woman Is Healed Just Like Luke 8

Disney World Transgender Bathroom Uproar Sparks Legal Threats

Soros Gives Over $3 Million to Try to Flip Texas for Democrats

FBI: Huge Coordinated Effort Culminates with the Rescue of 109 Children and Arrest of 244 Child Exploitation Offenders

House Passes Rescission of $1.1B Taxpayer Funding of PBS, NPR – Despite 4 GOP Defectors

Appeals Court Humiliates Newsom, Restores Trump's Control of National Guard

DECLASSIFIED: Iran Was About to Get the Bomb

President Trump Speaks Out About Israeli Air Strikes on Iran

Michael Tait Confesses to Allegations of Sexual Misconduct and Drug Abuse

New Hampshire Passes Universal School Choice, Parental Bill of Rights

European Leaders Take a Conservative Stand

Trump Secures a Legal Win as Federal Appeals Court Rules Tariffs Stay, For Now

RFK Jr. Appoints Several Prominent Critics of COVID-19 Vaccines to Key Committee after Firing Entire Advisory Panel

What You Need to Know About Soros and the Anti-ICE LA Riots

Tale of 2 Cities: Protests and Policies in LA and Dallas Yield Starkly Different Outcomes

Prayer Alert: '1 Survivor' in Air India Crash With More Than 240 Aboard

Prayer Alert: Hamas Murders GHF Aid Workers as US Embassies Begin Evacuating Due to Iran Threats

Christian Baker, Terrorized by Disturbing Threats, Legal Chaos over Cake Refusal, Won't Back Down

Trump's Presidential Salute to the US Army Comes on Its 250th Anniversary, and on Flag Day



Search the Articles Archives

Keyword:  
Author:  
Words Posted On:  
Day Month Year



BCN Plus

Follow BCN on Twitter
Are You Praying for Our Government Leaders?
BCN Staff

Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner


Aimee Herd
Aimee Herd, Editor


BCN Plus
Are You Praying for President Trump?
 
 

All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.


Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved


Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.

editor@breakingchristiannews.com