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Montana's Ban of Death with Dignity Dismissed

Posted by Melissa Barber on February 16, 2011

Today, Montana's Senate Judiciary Committee voted against a bill which was in direct conflict with the Montana Supreme Court's 2009 ruling in Baxter vs. Montana. In a bipartisan vote, the committee voted 7-5 against Senate Bill 116 which would have restricted competent, terminally ill patients from requesting medication from their physicians to hasten their deaths. In the words of Montana Senator Anders Blewett:

"Who better to decide when the suffering stops then the terminally ill patient who's in the trenches, going through this fighting for their lives they should be able to decide when that fight ends."

This is an exciting victory for the Death with Dignity movement. While a standard of care in regards to physician assisted death still needs to be developed, the committee listened to the will of the people and honored an individual's decision how to live the rest of his or her life when faced with a terminal illness.

We're continuing to monitor this and other end-of-life care legislative activities throughout the US. Check back often to stay up-to-date on your state.

Posted on February 16, 2011 in Press Room

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You are the key to ensuring well-crafted Death with Dignity laws for all Americans. With your financial and volunteer help, the Death with Dignity National Center, a 501(c)(3), non-partisan, non-profit organization, has been the leading advocate in the death with dignity movement. Member contributions helped us pass a new Death with Dignity law in Washington, defend the Oregon law, and provide education and outreach programs for the vitality of the death with dignity movement.

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