THE SANTA FE CITY COUNCIL WEDNESDAY NIGHT FORMALLY ENDORSED END OF LIFE AID. THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN REPORTS THE COUNCIL VOTED 6-TO-2 AFTER A LONG AND OFTEN EMOTIONAL DISCUSSION OF PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED DEATH. THE ONLY COUNCILORS VOTING AGAINST IT WERE PETER IVES AND CHRIS RIVERA. SEVEN RESIDENTS CAME FORWARD TO SPEAK OUT IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION. HALF A DOZEN PEOPLE SPOKE AGAINST IT.
THE NEW MEXICAN REPORTS THAT THE ONLY DOCTOR SERVING IN THE LEGISLATURE, TIJERAS REPRESENTATIVE GREGG SCHMEDES, URGED THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THAT TERMINALLY ILL PEOPLE SOMETIMES CHOOSE TO END THEIR LIVES PREMATURELY.
