The House State Affairs Committee has voted 14-5 in favor of HB 187, the new, "narrow" amendment to the state's existing conscience law regarding living wills, though several seniors and representatives of the AARP spoke out strongly against it; the move sends the bill to the full House for a vote. Lynn Young of Meridian, a member of AARP's national policy council, said, "This bill ... tips the scale between a physician's rights and the rights of a patient completely out of balance. It's poorly written." She said the measure still would allow health care providers to override a patient's living will, which addresses when artificial life supports should be removed. "When a patient has a terminal illness and can't state his or her desires, the advanced medical directive does that for him. It's not a good time to go doctor-shopping," she said.

William J. Bonner, a retired attorney and judge, told the committee, "These amendments should now be withdrawn for reasons of construction and grammar alone." C.J. Petrovsky of Eagle told the lawmakers, "I have an advance directive, as does my husband who recently suffered a life-threatening illness and nearly died twice. I frankly don't care about the opinions of an objecting health care provider in those circumstances. It's none of their business."

Rep. Julie Ellsworth, R-Boise, the bill's lead sponsor, said the measure would just clarify a conflict between Idaho's law on living wills and the health care provider conscience law. Rep. Carlos Bilabo, R-Emmett, said he suffered a heart attack two years ago, and could have died, and doctors were aware of and respectful of his living will. "I support this bill," he said. "I think that it alleviates a lot of fears of everyone." The conscience law, which mainly addresses abortion and emergency contraception but also includes end-of-life care and treatment, was enacted by lawmakers last year.