Good Piece Supporting Idaho's Criminalization Of Assisted Suicide

Here's a good piece by my friend and colleague Bill Saunders supporting Idaho’s recent criminalizing of assisted sucide.

Idaho Assisted Suicide Ban Helps Elderly, Disabled, Patients

During the ongoing debate over the federal budget, abortion policy has taken front and center stage.  While this development is positive for the battle to protect new life, developments in the law to protect life at its twilight have largely gone noticed.

Nonetheless, an event of great significance occurred on Tuesday, April 5th, when Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter signed a bill to prohibit assisted suicide in Idaho.   Idaho joined 36 states that have statutorily criminalized assisted suicide.  While assisted suicide had previously been a “common law” crime in Idaho, pro-assisted suicide organizations recently launched an effort in the state to garner acceptance for “aid in dying,” a euphemism for physician-assisted suicide. more

Idaho: Assisted Suicide Now A felony

Finally, a US state with a backbone. For all intents and purposes, assisted suicide is now a felony in Idaho. Way to go, Idaho!!

Idaho Governor Otter Signs Bill Banning Assisted Suicide

Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter has signed SB 1070, a measure prohibiting assisted suicide in Idaho. The bill comes as Oregon and Washington has approved assisted suicides and Montana has opened the door slightly.

The Idaho House and Senate voted overwhelmingly  to support the bill, which would revoke licenses from physicians who prescribe a lethal cocktail of drugs for patients to use to kill themselves. The law also allows people to get injunctions to prevent others from killing themselves with a doctor’s help. If it becomes law, those found guilty face five years in prison. more

Idaho Closer To Criminalizing Assisting A Suicide

Idaho's proposal to make assisting in a suicide a crime continues to move forward and looks like it'll be signed into law soon. Good for Idaho!!

Idaho House sends assisted suicide ban to governor for signature

The House voted overwhelmingly to send a bill banning helping somebody else commit suicide to Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter for signature.

Monday's 61-8 vote came after brief debate on the chamber's floor. more

Good: Idaho Makes Assisted Suicide A Felony

While other US state are falling over themselves to legalize assisted suicide, Idaho gets it right - making assisted suicide a serious felony crime. Good for Idaho!!

Eye On Boise: Senate passes anti-assisted suicide bill

The Idaho Senate has voted 31-2 in favor of SB 1070, which makes assisted suicide a felony in Idaho, revokes the licenses of doctors who violate the new law and allows people to get injunctions to block anyone they think might be planning an assisted suicide. more

Idaho Presses Closer To Criminalizing Assisted Suicide

Good for the Idaho Legislature for pressing on to clearly make assisted suicide a crime.

Assisted Suicide Legislation Hits the Senate Floor

It's a life and death issue that's hitting the Statehouse: Physician assisted-suicide and what Idaho code should say about the topic.

Assisted suicide is already legal in neighboring states of Montana, Washington, and Oregon, and now the battle lines are being drawn in the Gem State.

The Idaho Attorney General says current Idaho law doesn't make it clear whether it's legal or illegal. more

Idaho Moves Even Closer To Criminalize Assisted Suicide - Good!

Idaho moving closer to making assisted sucide a crime. Good. Note the media spin: (a) outlawing assisted suicide will "ban" it (no it won't, it'll just mean that if you engage in this behavior you will be prosecuted) and (b) the only people who want this law against assisted suicide are the right-wing nuts and religious freaks (um, no, there are many, many people who are not members of these (pejoratively) named groups who see assisted sucide and euthanasia for what they are: Essentially inhuman and discriminatory.

Idaho moves to ban assisted suicide

BOISE - Amid quotes from scripture and urgings from anti-abortion activists, an Idaho Senate committee on Wednesday approved legislation to outlaw physician-assisted suicide in the state, making it a felony. more

More On Idaho Looking To Criminalize Assisted Suicide

Here’s more on the Idaho push to criminalize assisted suicide.

Banning Assisted Suicide

Boise, ID -- Physician assisted suicide could soon be a crime in Idaho.  State Senator Russ Fulcher pitched the law to the Senate State Affairs Committee Friday morning. This piece of legislation is meant to be a road block for those who support what they call "aid in dying." more

Idaho Moves To Criminalize Assisted Suicide - Good For Idaho!

An Idaho Senator wants to introduce legislation to make assisted suicide a crime. Good for him. Cue the pro-deathers with flames and arrows about how “uncaring,” “unfeeling,” and “disingenuous” the senator is. Oh yes, and that he’s trying to deny people the “human right” to kill themselves or be killed by other “friends.”

Meridian Republican will pitch law banning physician-assisted suicide in Idaho

One Idaho lawmaker wants the state to join with more than 30 others in making physician assisted suicide a crime in the Gem State. Neighboring states Oregon and Washington have laws specifically allowing aid in dying. more

Idaho Tries To Make Sure Living Wills Are Honored

This is what we’ve come to, folks – in Idaho, they’re trying to get a bill introduced that will ensure that advance directives are honored by doctors. Aren’t we lucky to live in such screwed-up times?

Loertscher mulls killing bill to protect dying patients’ wishes in living wills

House State Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, says he hasn't decided whether or not to allow a hearing on legislation from Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, to amend Idaho's “conscience law” to ensure that patients' living wills and advanced care directives are followed - but he's  leaning against it. “I'm prone not to,” Loertscher told Eye on Boise. “It's only been in effect for six months or less. Let's see how it goes for a while.” more

In Idaho, Proposals To Have Medicos Withhold Care If THEY See Fit

Seeing that many of us warned about rationed care before the horror of Obamacare passed, and that the AARP fell over themselves to support it, all of a sudden the AARP is astonished that Idaho is proposing a law that would allow medical professionals - NOT THE PATIENT – and as a matter of their conscience, to withhold medical care at the end of life if THEY (the medicos) see fit. Tell me this isn’t doctor power in its rawest, nihilistic form.

Law affects end-of-life care

COEUR d'ALENE - A new law goes into effect July 1 giving Idaho health care workers the right to refuse to provide end-of-life care they find morally objectionable.

Some fear the legislation places the conscience of a caregiver ahead of a dying person's rights. more