End-Of-Life Groups Push For Veto Of Idaho Health Conscience Bill
Advocates for terminally ill people are putting pressure on Idaho Governor Butch Otter. They're asking him to veto a bill they say would allow health workers to withhold life-ending medications. Since 1973, Idaho doctors have had the right to refuse to perform abortions. The new bill now on its way to the governor would expand the conscience clause to all health care workers. It also adds emergency contraceptives, stem cell transplants and some end-of-life care to the list of services that can be refused. It is that last one that riles AARP of Idaho spokesman David Irwin. He says the prospective law would allow health care workers to override legal medical documents.“Let's come up with a better bill that is not going to put someone else's conscience before your living will and your advance directive. I mean, look, your deathbed is no place to learn someone else's conscience," he said.Irwin said AARP is asking the governor to send the bill back to legislators to remove the end-of-life provisions. There's no word yet whether he'll sign it or veto it.
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