MontanaPatient consent would not defend physicians in aid-in-dying homicide cases
If enacted, the bill would make patient consent no defense to a homicide charge against a physician who prescribes lethal medication for a patient to take.
What it does
If enacted, patient consent would not defend a physician against a homicide charge for prescribing lethal medication for a patient to take themselves. The bill excludes withholding or stopping life-sustaining treatment.
Argument forRemoving patient consent as a defense could make physicians less likely to prescribe medication intended to end a patient's life.
Argument againstPatients who want to end their lives with prescribed medication may have fewer options if physicians fear a homicide charge without a consent defense.
More detail
A patient's consent would not be a defense to a homicide charge against a physician who aids in dying. This applies to a physician charged with homicide for aiding a patient through physician aid in dying. Physician aid in dying means prescribing a lethal dose that the patient may take themselves to end their life. This does not include withholding or stopping life-sustaining treatment. The bill proposes an effective date of July 1, 2025, if enacted.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Died
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- May 23(S) Died in ProcessDied
- Apr 9(H) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: fail.Lower
- Apr 9(H) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Mar 25(H) Committee Report - (H) Judiciary
- Mar 24(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Judiciary
- Vote recorded be_concurred_in. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 17(H) Hearing - (H) Judiciary
- Feb 10(H) 1st Reading
- Feb 10(H) Referred to Committee - (H) JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 7(S) Transmitted to House
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 7(S) 3rd Reading
- Feb 7(S) Scheduled for 3rd ReadingMinor
- Feb 6(S) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 6(S) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Feb 3(S) Committee Report - (S) Judiciary
- Feb 3(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Judiciary
- Jan 26(S) Hearing - (S) Judiciary
- Jan 16(S) Referred to Committee - (S) JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 14(S) 1st Reading
- Jan 14(S) Introduced
- Jan 14(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- Jan 10(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- Jan 10(LC) Draft in Assembly
- Jan 8(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- Jan 8(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- Jan 7(LC) Draft in Edit
- Jan 7(LC) Draft in Legal Review
- 2024
- Dec 28(LC) Drafter AssignedIntroduced
HealthcareCriminal Justice