New Idaho law bans physician-assisted suicide

BOISE, Idaho — Idaho Gov. C.L. (Butch) Otter signed into law April 4 a ban on physician-assisted suicide. Idaho’s outlawing of assisted suicide broke a pattern in the northwest United States and blocked what pro-lifers described as an attempt to spread the practice into another state.

Voters in both Oregon and Washington have legalized assisted suicide in their states.

In 2009, the Montana Supreme Court ruled assisted suicide does not oppose public policy and provided doctors who assist in suicides with a defense against prosecution. Charmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life, said the Idaho Legislature “prevented a deliberate effort to create a ‘right’ to assisted suicide in Idaho.

The gracious and compassionate response of a people to their elderly, ill and disabled is to improve their quality of life, not end their lives.”
In March, the Idaho House of Representatives passed the ban in a 61–8 vote, while the Senate voted 31–2 for the measure.