Assisting Suicide Should Have Legal Recourse

Tyerell Przybycien

Deseret News Editorial Board

Occasionally, someone commits a crime so heinous and disturbing it leads to demands for specific changes in law. Such is the case in Utah in the wake of the suicide of a 16-year-old girl and the efforts of a young man accused of helping, abetting and encouraging her.

A bill before the Utah Legislature would add assisted suicide to the state’s manslaughter statute. That is an appropriate measure that could give law enforcement authorities more prosecutorial leverage.

Lawmaker proposes 'assisted suicide' law after teen allegedly helped girl kill herself

SALT LAKE CITY (KSTU) -- A state lawmaker is proposing a bill that would create a sort of "assisted suicide" law in response to the death of a Utah County girl and a man charged with murder.

Tyerell Przybycien is facing a murder charge in the death of 16-year-old Jchandra Brown. He is accused of purchasing supplies, goading the girl into taking her own life and taking video of the death.

Teen accused of helping friend commit suicide could face trial for murder

Jchandra "Jelly" Brown

To see article and video, click here.

PROVO, Utah (KSTU) -- A judge will decide if a Spanish Fork man will face trial on a murder charge in the suicide of a 16-year-old girl.

Utah County prosecutors argue that Tyerell Przybycien's actions led Jchandra Brown to kill herself, and he should be tried for first-degree felony murder and a class B misdemeanor charge of failure to report a body. His defense lawyers argued that Brown was responsible for her own actions.

Dore Memo Opposing Assisted Suicide Bill

To view a legal/policy memorandum opposing Utah's assisted suicide bill, click here and here. Key points include:

• "Eligible" persons may have years, even decades, to live.  
• The bill is stacked against the patient and a recipe for abuse.
• "Using" the law can be traumatic for patients and their families.