WASHINGTON (June 17, 1999) -- Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore announced that the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) strongly supports the Pain Relief Promotion Act of 1999.

The legislation is being introduced today (June 17) by Senator Don Nickles (R-OK) and Congressmen Henry Hyde (R-IL) and Bart Stupak (D-MI). Cardinal Keeler, Chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activities, urged all members of Congress to support the legislation.

"In our view, the starting point for our society's approach to terminal illness should be the inherent worth and dignity of each and every human person, especially those who are at life's most vulnerable stages," Cardinal Keeler said. "Once we as a society grasp this principle, we will devote ourselves tirelessly to ensuring that each terminally ill patient receives needed health care, relief of pain and other distressing symptoms, and loving companionship and support--and we will never seek to eliminate the vulnerable patient as a way of addressing his or her problems.

"By promoting improvements in palliative care, and by reaffirming that assisted suicide and euthanasia are not 'legitimate' medical practices in the eyes of our federal government, the Pain Relief Promotion Act serves the real needs of dying patients and their families," the Cardinal stated. "I applaud the sponsors for the hard work that has produced this landmark legislation, and I urge all members of Congress to lend their support."

The purposes of the Pain Relief Promotion Act of 1999 are to encourage practitioners to dispense controlled substances as medically appropriate to relieve pain and other distressing symptoms, to provide that a State law permitting assisted suicide or euthanasia has no force or effect in determining whether federal substances under the Controlled Substances Act have been violated, and to provide education and training to law enforcement officials and health professionals on medically accepted means for alleviating pain and other distressing symptoms for patients with advanced chronic disease or terminal illness.

I am pleased to announce the support of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops for the Pain Relief Promotion Act of 1999, to be introduced today by Senator Don Nickles and Congressmen Henry Hyde and Bart Stupak.

In our view, the starting point for our society's approach to terminal illness should be the inherent worth and dignity of each and every human person, especially those who are at life's most vulnerable stages. Once we as a societys grasp this principle, we will devote ourselves tirelessly to ensuring that each terminally ill patient receives needed health care, relief of pain and other distressing symptoms, and loving companionship and support--and we will never seek to eliminate the vulnerable patient as a way of addressing his or her problems.

By promoting improvements in palliative care, and by reaffirming that assisted suicide and euthanasia are not "legitimate" medical practices in the eyes of our federal government, the Pain Relief Promotion Act serves the real needs of dying patients and their families. I applaud the sponsors for the hard work that has produced this landmark legislation, and I urge all members of Congress to lend their support.

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