The Southern California Cancer Pain Initiative (SCCPI) was established in 1993, and over the past twelve years has focused on its mission, “To improve cancer pain management for patients”.  SCCPI is a non-profit organization including 2200 professionals dedicated to enhanced pain relief and care for people facing cancer.  Our efforts have also extended to other chronic illness populations.  SCCPI is a member of the American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives, and California efforts have provided leadership to the nation. 

The Southern California Cancer Pain Initiative supports enhanced efforts in California to provide competent and compassionate care to people with life-threatening disease.  We are opposed to legislation which would support physician assisted suicide, and believe that both the pursuit of such legislation or its enactment are not in the interests in California citizens, individuals with life-threatening disease, families, communities, or society.   

1.                  There are serious deficiencies in healthcare systems in California, and throughout the nation, which have resulted in inadequate pain management and care for patients with life-threatening disease.

2.                  While some progress has been made, there are still major deficiencies in professional knowledge and attitudes related to quality care.  Most physicians, nurses and other health care providers are poorly prepared to manage pain and other aspects of end of life care.

3.                  Major system barriers exist to the delivery of quality care including the reimbursement limitations, lack of continuity of care, and inadequate access to hospice and palliative care services. 

4.                  Regulatory barriers exist in California including the effective implementation of legislation intended to eliminate triplicate prescribing, and numerous other legislative and regulatory barriers all documented extensively by several national studies to impede pain relief. 

5.                  The State of California is in the midst of financial crises.  We believe that resources of the people of California are best spent on the provision of care and that introduction of legislation and the subsequent effects of such legislation, whether passed or denied, would consume literally millions of dollars that would be far better devoted to the care of citizens rather than the debate of assisted death.  For example, in the State of Oregon, it was documented that the last election to retain the physician assisted suicide law cost over four million dollars in costs of advertising and campaigning alone.  This is enough dollars to have provided competent and compassionate hospice to every dying Oregonian for the next three years.  It is the strong belief of the Southern California Cancer Pain Initiative that we should not follow suit with Oregon in devoting such precious resources to similar legislation.  The taxpayer resources that would be necessary to monitor and regulate assisted suicide if enacted are better spent on needs such as basic health care devoted to the relief of pain. 

6.                  SCCPI also believes that if physician assisted suicide were enacted, there could be greater unintended consequences including misuse of this law particularly for the poor and vulnerable as well as a serious social policy that would focus the values of our state to ending life rather than direct our values toward the promotion of optimum comfort and care for those facing the end of life and their families. 

Thus in January 2005, SCCPI has affirmed its position that we are opposed to the “Death with Dignity” bill to be introduced by assembly members Berg and Levine or any future assembly legislation.  We instead stand committed to the dignity that can be provided to all California citizens through optimum pain relief and the provision of hospice and palliative care. 

References:

Kinsey Hill, G., & Green, A. S. (1994, Nov 4). Initiative campaigns wallow in cash. Oregonian, p. C7.

Measure 51 doctor-assisted suicide voter's guide. (1997, November 2). The Oregonian, p. A12.

Pain & Policy Studies Group.  Achieving Balance in State Pain Policy: A Progress Report Card.  University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center.  Madison, Wisconsin, September 2003.