Idaho Governor signs bill to assure that seniors and other vulnerable people are protected from assisted suicide

Bill SB 1070, the bill that makes assisted suicide a felony in Idaho, was signed by Governor Butch Otter almost two weeks ago.

Last year, Kathryn Tucker, the legal director for Compassion & Choices, formerly the Hemlock Society, organized a campaign to legalize assisted suicide in Idaho.

In response to the campaign by Compassion & Choices, on February 4, Senator Russ Fulcher introduced Senate Bill SB 1070 to clean-up the criminal code making assisted suicide a felony in Idaho.

On March 11, the Idaho Senate passed the bill by a vote of 31 to 2 and on March 27, the Idaho House passed the bill by a vote of 61 to 8.

This is a significant victory that was supported by the Idaho Medical Association. This amendment will ensure that Idaho citizens and elders are protected from assisted suicide.

We thank the group Idaho Chooses Life for supporting the bill.