After passing the Nevada Assembly, the bill that would have legalized assisted suicide, AB 346, has died in the NV Senate! All of the credit for this win goes to our NV Coalition and fellow advocates.
Let me take you through a quick recap. The bill started out in the Assembly and the first hearing was through a non-traditional ad-hoc committee of hand-picked proponents of assisted suicide. The rules of public testimony and a fair hearing did not apply. AB 346 unfortunately was amended and passed the Assembly in a 23-19 vote. It moved to the traditional Senate Health and Human Services committee. Our NV Coalition and fellow advocates wasted no time in constantly meeting with key Senators, sending in emails, reaching outside of our Coalition to pull in more influence, and writing excellent op-eds and letters to the editor in various newspapers. Their work paid off! In the end, the votes were not even present in the Senate committee.
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Looking toward the future, we know that pro-assisted suicide advocates won't be giving up, so we certainly won't quit. If you haven't been involved before will you consider your role in fighting assisted suicide? Can you be a person who meets with legislators? Perhaps you can send letters to the editor and change hearts and minds in the public view? Are you willing to spread the word to your friends, family, and neighbors by sending them action alerts? Or, are you able to donate to our tireless efforts in NV and across the US? However you choose to be a part of the solution, we welcome your efforts. As Helen Keller said, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
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Advocacy work like this is not easy. Which is why we must celebrate our wins like this one in Nevada. Thank you to all of our advocates who played a vital role in this victory. This win is for you!
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Sarah Davenport-Smith
NV Coalition Coordinator
Patients' Rights Action Fund
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PRAF is a leading national, non-partisan single-issue organization that protects the rights of patients, people with disabilities, older adults, and other historically underrepresented groups from deadly harm and discrimination inherent in assisted suicide laws. |
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