A bill that would legalize physician-assisted suicide was recently debated in the state Legislature, though the bill’s author said it faces an uphill battle to pass.

The Senate Public Health, Senior Issues, Long Term Care and Privacy Committee held a public hearing Wednesday on Senate Bill 151.

State Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, and state Rep. Frank Boyle, D-Superior, authored the bill.

The bill would allow adult, mentally competent patients with terminal illnesses to obtain life-ending medication from doctors as long as they follow strict guidelines, according to Risser.

“I think the guidelines are very strict and as strict as we can make them,” Risser said.

The guidelines require the patient to request the medication orally and in writing, evaluating the patient’s competency, giving the individual the opportunity to change his or her mind and having three independent witnesses of the request, Risser said.

The origin of this bill, according to Risser, stems from the belief terminally ill patients do not choose to die but should be able to choose how and when.

Groups such as Pro-Life Wiconsin and Wisconsin Catholic Conference have shown strong opposition to Senate Bill 151.

According to a press release, Pro-Life Wisconsin fears the passage of this bill would eventually result in a trend of encouraging physician-assisted suicide in order to cut medical costs.

Barbara Sella, the associate director for Respect Life and Social Concerns at the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, stated similar concerns.

“[Doctors] never want a patient to look up and wonder, ‘is this doctor coming in to suggest to end my life, or is he or she really there to help me?” Sella said.

Sella said the truly civilized way to treat the terminally ill is to help them through their last days with encouragement not by allowing them to take their own lives.

“There’s a myth perception out there that either you give somebody an injection or pill to end their lives or force them to suffer endlessly,” Sella said.

Risser said he believes few people will resort to physician-assisted suicide, and the regulations included in the bill will be enough to avoid misuse of the practice.

“We don’t want Kevorkian-like individuals turning around and making their own rules and regulations,” Risser said.

Risser said he is not optimistic the bill will pass, but said he believes there is public support and he has not given up.