Dem leader blasts ‘cruel’ GOP rhetoric on end-of-life treatment

Allegations by Republicans that end-of-life consultations funded in healthcare reform legislation would lead to physician-assisted suicide is the “cruelest” part of the GOP’s message against reform, one top House Democrat argued Friday.

Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, blasted Republican rhetoric on end-of-life treatment language included in the bill.

“Maybe the cruelest and most damaging and most frightening thing that they’ve done is say that this bill encourages senior citizens to commit suicide,” Miller said in a conference call previewing Democrats’ August recess efforts to push for their healthcare reform legislation.

“It’s just outrageous that they would play that kind of fear on that vulnerable population,” Miller said.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Republican Policy Committee Chairman Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) had suggested the provision “may start us down a treacherous path toward government-encouraged euthanasia if enacted into law.”

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chairman and assistant to the Speaker Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) added: “For the opponents of this to suggest this is taking control away from seniors is just false.”

Miller said that Democratic lawmakers were “very energized” to head home to their districts during the August congressional weekend, where the debate over healthcare will play out on a local level.