Sunday, February 11, 2018

House Passes Bill Seeking to Criminalize Assisted Suicide

Rep. Michael McKell
Jessica Miller, The Salt Lake Tribune  

The Utah House passed a bill Tuesday seeking to criminalize helping someone commit suicide — despite some concern from lawmakers that the bill could unintentionally target physicians or family members of terminally ill patients.

Rep. Michael McKell, R-Spanish Fork, has sponsored House Bill 86, which would amend Utah’s manslaughter statute to include assisted suicide. This means a person would be guilty of a second-degree felony — which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison — if prosecutors can prove he or she provided “the physical means” for someone to commit suicide.