Pro-life groups embrace bill that ensures food and water

Demonstrating notable unity, the pro-life community has come together in support of HB 3074, which requires the provision of artificial nutrition and hydration for patients who wish it, unless the provision of food and water causes harm to the patient.
 
The Texas Alliance for Life, the Texans for Life Committee, Texas Right to Life and Texas Catholic Conference all signed onto the legislation, authored by state Rep. Drew Springer (R-Muenster) and committed to work to see the bill through passage in both the Texas House and Senate and encourage the signature of Texas Governor Gregg Abbott.
 
“This is a refreshing and inspiring collaboration for groups committed to the protection of life,” Kyleen Wright, president of Texans for Life Committee, said.  “I am indeed proud to have been part of the effort to forge this important consensus.”
 
“We are honored to be a part of this agreement among these pro-life groups,” Joe Pojman, executive director of Texas Alliance for Life, said. “Mothers, unborn babies, and vulnerable patients deserve no less.”
 
Current law provides no criteria for when and how a decision to remove artificially administered nutrition and hydration may occur. 
 
“It was essential for legislators to establish strict and clear rules for the rare circumstances in which a doctor may have to consider withholding food and water because it exacerbates the suffering or brings about the death of a patient,” Jeffery Patterson, executive director of the Texas Catholic Conference, said.  
 
The bill is expected to pass through the House State Affairs Committee and be on the floor of Texas House as early as next week.