On Thursday, February 20, 2013, HB 505 was voted out of the House Judiciary Committee!
The vote to pass was 12 to 8!
Our next step is to pass out of the House. The vote on the floor will most likely occur next week.
HB 505 is a short and simple bill that clarifies the offense of aiding or soliciting suicide. The bill’s other purpose is to prevent the legalization of assisted suicide in Montana. To view a copy of the bill click here. For more detailed information, click here.
HB 505 is consistent with Montana's civil law in which persons who cause or fail to prevent another person’s suicide can be found civilly liable.[1] This is typically in a hospital or jail setting.[2]
HB 505 is needed now because the former Hemlock Society, Compassion & Choices, is falsely and aggressively claiming that assisted suicide is legal in Montana. Indeed, C & C refers to Montana as the “third state” along with Oregon and Washington.
A lie or half truth repeated enough times becomes the truth.
With a yes vote on HB 505, the law will be clear that assisted suicide is not legal in Montana. There will be a clear tool for law enforcement and other interested parties to stop the propaganda. There will be a clear means to protect Montana citizens, especially the elderly.
Please tell your legislators to vote Yes!
Footnotes:
[1] See Krieg v. Massey, 239 Mont. 469, 472-3 (1989) and Nelson v. Driscoll, 295 Mont. 363, Para 32-33 (1999). Other cases include Edwards v. Tardif, 240 Conn. 610, 692 A.2d 1266 (1997) (affirming a civil judgment against a physician who had prescribed an ”excessively large dosage” of barbiturates to a suicidal patient who then killed herself with the barbiturates).
[2] Id.
