Medical aid in dying was authorized in Montana when the state Supreme Court found in 2009 that “[The] Rights of the Terminally Ill Act clearly provides that terminally ill patients are entitled to autonomous end-of-life decisions.” Compassion & Choices litigated this case.
In 2023, Sen. Glimm introduced SB 210 (read our bill summary here), the Physician Imprisonment Act. It failed on the Senate floor by a vote of 24 to 26, and medical aid in dying remains an end-of-life option in Montana.
In a February 2023 poll, 88% of Montana voters opposed the Physician Imprisonment Act. In the 2025 legislature, we will protect medical aid in dying if criminalization legislation is introduced.
VICTORY: SB 210 is defeated in the Senate. However, we are already preparing for another fight. If you agree with 88% of Montanas who reject lawmakers’ attempt at criminalizing medical aid in dying, let lawmakers know today.
Overview – Over 80% of Montanans Support Medical Aid in Dying
Susquehanna Polling and Research – Montana Statewide Public Opinion Survey
(Helena, Mont. – Mar. 24, 2017) — The Montana Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on SB 360 today, a bill introduced by Sen. Albert Olszewski (SD 6), that would allow the state of Montana to charge physicians with murder for writing a prescription for aid-in-dying medication for a terminally ill adult who requests it…
(Helena, Mont. – Mar. 23, 2017) A new bill (SB 360) that would allow the state of Montana to imprison doctors for writing a prescription for aid-in-dying medication for a terminally ill adult who requests it to peacefully end their suffering, is slated for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing tomorrow, March 24 at 9:00 a.m….
The Montana House reversed course March 1 and rejected a bill that would have allowed the state to execute doctors for writing a prescription for aid-in-dying medication for a terminally ill adult who requests it to peacefully end their suffering. The House failed to pass the bill, HB 536, it approved the previous day by…
(Helena, Mont. – Feb. 24, 2017) Opponents of a bill that would make Montana doctors liable for homicide if they provide medical aid in dying to terminally ill adults slammed the House Judiciary Committee for shutting down debate on the legislation by limiting hearing testimony to only 15 minutes for each side. Rep. Ellie Hill…
(HELENA, MONTANA — Feb. 23, 2017) A woman whose father, Bob Baxter, led the successful legal fight to authorize medical aid in dying as a peaceful option to end unbearable suffering for terminally ill adults in Montana, will testify tomorrow against a bill to ban the medical practice in the state. Baxter’s daughter, Leslie Mutchler,…
“Years and years ago, it dawned on me that we needed something better for terminally ill people who were having difficulties for whatever reason,” explains retired physician Jim McCreedy about his belief in allowing adults the full range of end-of-life options. The Pennsylvania native received his medical degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C….
Compassion & Choices is commemorating this week’s 24th anniversary of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act on Saturday, July 26, by releasing a video today saluting our volunteers living with disabilities. The video is available for viewing here and on Compassion & Choices’ YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/ADACelebration. “Compassion & Choices shares the goal of Americans with…
After an intense legislative session battling House Bill 505, otherwise known as “The Doctor Imprisonment Act,” the Montana Senate struck down this dangerous measure, which would have obliterated citizens’ right to access aid in dying and criminalized doctors who provide it. HB 505 fizzled 27-23 on April 15 after its proponents used procedural maneuvers to…
In December, a Montana District judge ruled that mentally competent, terminally ill Montanans have a fundamental right to a dignified death as protected by their state constitution. Yet four months into this ruling, two terminally ill Montana residents who wish to access this constitutional right cannot find a willing physician to help them. This is…
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