Death bill clears Senate, 24-10

The Senate is has voted 24-10 in favor of SB 1348a, Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll’s bill to forbid health care providers from withholding food or medication to dying patients without the patient’s consent. Nuxoll said pro-life groups support her bill. Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, asked the Senate, “What problem are we solving?” He said, “I’m a bit mystified.”

Schmidt, a doctor and former county coroner, said, “I just don’t see the need for this bill, and I’m going to be voting against it.” He objected to Nuxoll’s contention that doctors don’t have to provide care if they think it’d be “futile.” Said Schmidt, “I’m going to totally disagree with that. We should always give care. … I have cared for many people through their illnesses and up to their deaths. We always give care. The appropriateness of the care … is a question that lies between the patient and their physician.”

Nuxoll told the Senate, “This is a balance between extremes of keeping patients alive by machines … and letting patients die. … I would just ask you senators to make sure, how would you feel when you’re in the hospital receiving treatment for whatever. Don’t you want to make sure that is the treatment that you want? That is what this bill does.” The bill now moves to a House committee.