EPC supports Shawn's law - Pennsylvania House Bill 184.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Shawn Shatto

In July 2020, the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition published an article about the assisted suicide death of Shawn Shatto. The article explained how Shawn died by suicide, but in this case she was aided by an assisted suicide website that provided lethal directions and encouraged her to die. Jackie Bieber, Shawn's mother, is trying to prevent similar assisted suicide deaths. The article states:

Ever since the day Shawn took her life, Jackie has been advocating for "Shawn's Law," which "strengthens penalties against anyone who assists in a suicide, but especially anyone who is under the age of 18 or has a mental disability." Bieber would like to see Shawn's Law signed by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf. She doesn't want anyone to feel as lost and hopeless as her daughter did the day she died.

Rep Dawn Keefer

Pennsylvania House Bill 184, also known as Shawn's Law, is sponsored by Representative Dawn Keefer. Shawn's Law states that:

A. Causing suicide as criminal homicide.--A person may be convicted of criminal homicide for causing another to die by suicide only if he intentionally causes such suicide by force, duress or deception.

(b) Aiding or soliciting suicide as an independent offense.--A person who intentionally aids or solicits another to die by suicide is guilty of a felony of the second degree if his conduct causes such suicide or an attempted suicide, and otherwise of a misdemeanor of the second degree.

Shawn's law is a proactive way to protect people from assisted suicide and websites that instruct and encourage suicide. 

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition supports Shawn's  law and urges the Pennsylvania Senate to pass it and Governor Wolf to sign it into law.

Shawn Shatto is one of many people who were struggling with depression and anxiety to come across an assisted suicide website that provided instructions and encouraged suicide.

Don't believe the assisted suicide lobby when they say that suicide and assisted suicide are different, when the assisted suicide lobby is also involved with peddling suicide.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

• Pennsylvania House passes Shawn's law (Link).
• Suicide promotion website linked to euthanasia activist (Link). 
• Assisted suicide groups linked to suicide promotion websites (Link).