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Right to Die

Doctor-Assisted Suicide Legal in Montana, Court Rules


By Jonathan Weber , 12-31-09

Montana on Thursday became the third state to legalize doctor-assisted suicide when the state Supreme Court ruled that nothing in the state constitution prevented patients from seeking help in ending their lives.

A lower court judge in Helena surprised many in the state a year ago when she ruled that the constitutional right to privacy included the right to die, and the Supreme Court upheld her ruling Thursday. The case was filed on behalf Robert Baxter of Billings and four physicians. Baxter died of cancer last year.

The 4-3 ruling was a narrow one and likely sets the stage for a further battle over the issue in the state legislature. Oregon and Washington are currently the only two states where assisted suicide is legal.

Check out the full Associated Press story here.

Kirk Johnson of the New York Times has a fine analysis here.



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By Jonathan Weber , 12-31-09 | comments (1) | email story | print story

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Comments

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By milburnschmidt, 12-31-09
I do believe someone who is terminally ill with limited time left should be able to make a decision to end his life to avoid the pain or long term care. I do hope there are measures in place so someone who might not be capable of making a decision or could be influenced by greedy relatives who are eager to take over a estate or end responsibility to protect them.Some Old people are susceptable to to influence by those who do not have their best interests at heart and dont want to be a bother to them. This should only be permitted when the patient opts for it not a Dr suggesting it.

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