Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Current Interpretations: States that prohibit or permit PAS

Currently there are only three states that approve physician assisted suicide:

Oregon - Has a law that specifically authorizes physician assisted suicide and protects the rights of those terminally ill and have the right to die, and physicians in the act of committing the lethal injections.

Montana - Physician Assisted suicide is legal in the state under a 2009, Supreme Court Case. It allows physician to comply with terminally ill patience request for physician assisted suicide. Although euthanasia falls under the general homicide laws of Montana.

Washington - Has a law that specifically authorizes physician assisted suicide after ruling in favor of PAS, by a Supreme Court Case
http://www.nightingalealliance.org/pdf/state_grid.pdf
Of the 47 states that don't comply with PAS, nine states; Alabama, Ohio, Idaho, Mass, North Carolina, Vermont, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming have no legitimate law prohibiting physician assisted suicide. However, under common law PAS would fall under homicide in most cases. Euthanasia is prohibited in these sates.
http://www.nightingalealliance.org/pdf/state_grid.pdf
In the rest of the 38 states, there is a specific law prohibiting the act and use of physician assisted suicide. Considered homicide, physicians who proceed in the act may spend the rest of their life in prison.
http://www.nightingalealliance.org/pdf/state_grid.pdf

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