Calif. Suicide Bill to Push Out the 'Old' and 'Weak'?

California lawmakers passed a bill late Friday that would allow terminally ill patients to legally end their lives with the help of a physician.

Gov. Jerry Brown, a former Jesuit seminarian, has not said whether he will sign the measure which allows doctors to prescribe life-ending drugs.

The bill brought emotional debate on the last day of the state's legislative session.

"Eliminate the needless pain and the long suffering of those who are dying," urged Democratic Sen. Lois Wolk, one of the bill's co-authors.

Opponents said the measure could prompt premature suicides.

"I'm not going to push the old or the weak out of this world, and I think that could be the unintended consequence of this legislation," said Republican Sen. Ted Gaines.

A leading family values organization in California says vulnerable people will die before their time if the bill becomes law.

"For all practical purposes, this bill will open the door to pressure the weak and vulnerable to die prematurely," said Randy Thomasson, president of SaveCalifornia.com

The measure's supporters say it includes requirements that the patient be physically capable of taking the medication themselves, that two doctors approve it, that the patient submit several written requests, and that there be two witnesses.

But opponents say that's not exactly true.

"The floor authors answered deceptively when asked about a witness at death and whether a person must self-administer the lethal drug," Thomasson said.

"Jerry Brown needs to realize that no witness at death, no requirement to self-administer, and effectively permitting forgery of a final attestation form sets up weak and vulnerable Californians to be killed off. This bill sets up the perfect crime, and that itself justifies a veto," he said.

Doctors in Oregon, Washington, Vermont and Montana already can prescribe life-ending drugs.

"When a law permits doctors to 'help' kill patients, and exempts physicians from liability, that's a license to coerce, if not a license to kill," Thomasson said. "How opposite from the Hippocratic Oath, where physicians pledge, 'I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan.'"