A BILL TO MAKE "PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE" A CRIME

A bill to make "physician-assisted suicide" a crime in Arkansas was
approved Friday by the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

Law makes it a crime if "a person ... purposely causes or aids another
person to commit suicide." That's one of the crimes lumped under the
heading "manslaughter."

Law prescribes a punishment of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of
up to $10,000.

House Bill 1298 by Rep. Jimmy Jeffress, D-Crossett, would create the
crime of "physician-assisted suicide" subject to the same penalty.

The crime is defined as one involving "a physician or health care
provider participating in a medical procedure or willfully prescribing
any drug, compound or substance for the express purpose of assisting
the patient to intentionally end his or her life."

The bill goes to the Senate.

HB 1298 would not bar doctors from prescribing pain medication, nor
would it apply to living wills, where a person may request that
extraordinary steps not be taken to extend life.

Neither would it apply to executions by the state.

A list compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures of
states with laws banning doctor-assisted suicides includes Arkansas.

Only Oregon has a law legalizing doctor-assisted suicides, according
to the conference. Fifteen people have ended their own life with the
help of a doctor since the law's enactment in November 1997, according
to the Oregon Health Department.

The committee also approved: * Senate Bill 476 by Sen. Jean Edwards,
D-Sherrill, which would ban the cloning of human beings. Edwards said
cloning of animals and parts of humans is protected by the bill, but
he fears the cloning of individuals could lead to a caste system where
some people are rated better than others. "You wouldn't stand a chance
if they wanted all Michael Jordans," Edwards said, referring to the
recently retired professional basketball player. The bill also bans
the purchase or sale of an ovum, zygote, embryo or fetus for the
purpose of human cloning. Violators would be subject to a civil
penalty of $250,000. *House Bill 1343 by Rep. Mark Smith, R-El Dorado,
which would ban the sale of hand-held laser pointers to minors.
Violation would be punishable by a $100 fine. Supporters of the bill
say eyes may be damaged when hit by the laser beam.