CNSNews.com - House Health-Care Bill Does Not Prohibit Paying Federal Funds to Health Providers Who Withhold Food and Water From Patients

CNSNews.com - House Health-Care Bill Does Not Prohibit Paying Federal Funds to Health Providers Who Withhold Food and Water From Patients: "(CNSNews.com) – The health-care bill that cleared the House on Saturday says federal funds cannot be used to 'promote' assisted suicide, euthanasia or mercy killing. But Rep. Charles Boustany, Jr. (R-La.), who is a surgeon, says the bill does not prohibit the use of federal funds to pay health care providers who provide “end-of-life care” that involves denying food and water to a patient.

“H.R. 3962 does not rule out using federal funds to reimburse health providers should they withhold nutrition or hydration,” Boustany spokesman Rick Curtsinger said.

“The bill says end-of-life care planning materials may not 'promote' assisted suicide, but it leaves this term intentionally vague so the ban might not apply in states with ‘death with dignity’ laws.”

Michael Steel, press secretary for House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), agreed, saying, “Our understanding is that this sort of thing would be allowed.”

Assisted suicide has been approved by voters in two states, Oregon in 1994 and Washington in 2008, and cleared by a lower court in Montana."