Oklahoma Death Certificate Accuracy Act (HB 1495) passes.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

In most jurisdictions where euthanasia and/or assisted suicide have been decriminalized, the statutes state that the physician must lie on the death certificate by listing the cause of death as the disease or injury that led the person to request death by lethal drugs.

For instance, Ontario's Bill 84 requires physicians and Coroners to lie on the death certificate by stating that the person died as a result of the injury or disease, and not medical assistance in dying (euthanasia). Bill 84 states:

Medical assistance in dying
2.2 For the purposes of this Act, a worker who receives medical assistance in dying is deemed to have died as a result of the injury or disease for which the worker was determined to be eligible to receive medical assistance in dying in accordance with paragraph 241.2 (3) (a) of the Criminal Code (Canada).

Oklahoma, where assisted suicide is prohibited, passed HB 1495 in the House (62 - 26) to counter the concept that physicians or coroners can / must lawfully lie on death certificates.

I have always stated that if there is nothing wrong with assisted suicide, why are doctors required to lie about it?

Thank you Oklahoma legislators for identifying one of the assisted suicide lobby lies. Lying on a death certificate denies effective oversight of the assisted suicide law.