New Mexico Supreme Court |
US territory includes 50 states, the District of Columbia, five major territories and various minor islands.[1] There are 5 states and the District of Columbia where assisted suicide/euthanasia is legal.[2] Other states have defeated laws seeking to legalize these practices and/or have affirmatively strengthened their laws against these practices. One state, New Mexico, overturned prior legality. Please find more information below.
A. This Year, Utah Passed a Law Making Assisted Suicide a Felony
This year, the state of Utah amended its manslaughter statute to clarify that aiding suicide is a felony.[3] The bill passed the legislature by a 2 to 1 margin.[4]
B. Last Year, Alabama Passed an Act Banning Assisted Suicide
Last year, Alabama enacted an “Assisted Suicide Ban Act,” which renders any person who deliberately assists a suicide, guilty of a felony.[5] The vote was nearly unanimous.[6]
C. Two Years Ago, the New Mexico Supreme Court Overturned Assisted Suicide
Two years ago, the New Mexico Supreme Court overturned a lower court decision recognizing a right to “physician aid in dying,” meaning physician-assisted suicide.[7] Physician-assisted suicide is no longer legal in New Mexico.
Footnotes
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_and_territories_of_the_United_States
[2] Assisted suicide/euthanasia is legal in California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington State and Vermont. Hawaii has enacted a law to legalize, which is not in effect.
[3] https://le.utah.gov/~2018/bills/static/HB0086.html
[4] The Utah bill passed the House 51 to 18, and the Senate, 19 to 5. For more information, see https://le.utah.gov/~2018/bills/static/HB0086.html and click “status.”
[5] Alabama: Assisted Suicide Ban Act to Go Into Effect,” http://www.choiceillusion.org/2017/07/alabama-assisted-suicide-ban-act-to-go.html
[6] Scroll down to view roll calls at https://legiscan.com/AL/bill/HB96/2017
[7] Morris v. Brandenburg, 376 P.3d 836 (2016). See also: http://www.choiceillusionnewmexico.org/2016/07/new-mexico-upholds-assisted-suicide.html
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