Today, HB 477, providing that physician-assisted suicide is against public policy, passed on third reading on the floor of the House of Representatives, with a tie vote, 51 to 48. The bill seeks to overturn Montana's Baxter decision, which gives doctors who assist a suicide a potential defense to a homicide charge.
Another bill, HB 328, which had also sought to overturn Baxter, failed 51 to 49. SB 202, which would have legalized physician-assisted suicide, is apparently dead in Committee.
We thank everyone who helped us get this far, especially our sponsor, Representative Jerry Bennett, our volunteers and our financial contributors.
[UPDATE: On April 28, 2015, HB 477 died in the Senate Judiciary Committee]
