California could become the fifth US state - and the largest economy in the world - to allow doctors to help patients take their lives, after the state legislature passed a law permitting it for terminally ill people given less than six months to live.
The lower chamber approved the measure by a vote of 44-35 and the state Senate approved it 23-14.
Governor Jerry Brown has not indicated whether he will sign the bill into law or not.
“I am deeply disturbed by the California legislature’s decision to allow doctors to help their patients kill themselves,” said Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles in a post on his archdiocesan website.
“Just a few months ago, after a long and substantial debate, the Assembly Health Committee wisely decided not to advance this legislation.”
“The people of California — especially the poor, the elderly, minorities and the disabled — deserve much better from their leaders,” Archbishop Gomez stated. “And make no mistake, it will be these most vulnerable populations who are going to suffer from this legislation.”
Catholic Church leaders joined with advocates for people with disabilities and the elderly to oppose the extension of assisted suicide to California.
Advocates of the measure pointed to the case of Brittany Maynard, a young woman with brain cancer, who moved from California to Oregon last year to avail herself of that state’s law to kill herself.
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