By Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA
The purpose will be to clarify once and for all that physician-assisted suicide is not legal in Montana.
To learn more, view our Montana page at this link.
By Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA* 
Justice Mallon
On June 16, 2020, Justice Jillian Mallon issued a judgment describing the End of Life Choice Act as limited to voluntary euthanasia and/or physician-assisted suicide. (Judgment, page 1).
The Act, however, also allows non-voluntary death. One reason is that assisted dying (euthanasia and assisted suicide) is described as being performed by a "medical practitioner."
In practice, medical practitioners are allowed to provide medical treatment on a non-voluntary basis. For a common example, consider automobile accidents. Medical practitioners are allowed to treat accident victims on a non-voluntary basis if circumstances are determined to warrant such action. If the patient is unconscious and unable to give consent, medical treatment determined necessary by medical practitioners is nonetheless allowed to go forward.
The purposeful placement of actively ill COVID patients with nursing home residents; the reduction of options for individuals, including children, to stay healthy, by blocking their access to exercise, social interaction and healthcare; and the destruction of the economy, putting further pressure on individuals and families.What we do
A Queensland man sentenced to 10 years in prison for helping his wife to kill herself for a $1.4 million life insurance payout has lost his appeal.
 |
| Minnesota State Capitol |
 |
| State House |
 |
| Stephen Mendelsohn |
We still need to be concerned about a special session, but for now, 8 years with no bill passing a single committee.
 |
| Margaret Dore |
Ms. Dore’s brief should be considered by the Court since if the law is unconstitutional under the single object rule, it should be the Court’s responsibility to raise that issue sua sponte even if not raised by Ms. Dore or the Plaintiffs.[3]The Legislature understood that it was enacting a strictly voluntary law limited to assisted suicide for dying patients.[4] The prior judge expressed a similar view. See, for example, the transcript from the hearing on August 14, 2019 (“This case is not about euthanasia”).[5]
 |
| E. David Smith |
 |
| Anne Hanson, MD |
We testified on the Senate version, SB 701, on 2/28/20. There was no hearing on the House bill and neither advanced out of committee. Best success we've had since the first go-around in 2015!Hansen added, this was "a huge setback for proponents considering the bill failed to pass into law by one vote last year."
By Margaret Dore, Esq, MBA
A few years ago, I investigated a death under Oregon's similar law in conjunction with attorney Isaac Jackson. There was a near complete lack of transparency in which even the police were unable to obtain verifying information regarding deaths under the law. To learn more, click here.The report released this week — which covered the two years between July 1, 2017, June 30, 2019 — said that 34 patients qualified for the terminal prescriptions under Vermont’s law. Of those, 24 had cancer, four had ALS, three had neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Huntington’s, and three others had unspecified conditions.
A health care professional or other person shall not administer the medication [lethal dose] to the patient. (Emphasis added).[4]
This prohibition is, however, unenforceable. This is due to the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”).
Washington State’s Death with Dignity Act was passed by the voters as Initiative1000. During the election, backers touted it as providing "choice" for individuals. A glossy brochure declared, "Only the patient — and no one else — may administer the [lethal dose]." The Act does not say this anywhere.[1]
By Margaret Dore, Esq., MBA
 |
| Governor Murphy |
 |
| Alabama Governor Kay Ivy |
