Ruling Opens Door to Physician Assisted Suicide

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Montana Supreme Court ruled that state law does not contain any policy restrictions to prevent physicians from legally prescribing lethal drugs to patients. This decision endangers the lives of the elderly, the sick, and the disabled.

"To protect people's lives, the law needs to draw a clear distinction between withdrawing life-sustaining measures and physician assisted suicide. Today's decision blurs that line, which is extremely dangerous. This will have horrendous implications for the most vulnerable citizens in Montana," said William Saunders, Senior Counsel at Americans United for Life.

AUL filed the lead amicus ("friend of the court") brief in the case, representing 28 bipartisan Montana legislators and arguing that there is no right to assisted suicide under the Montana Constitution.

AUL's brief before the Montana Supreme Court is available at http://www.aul.org/xm_client/client_documents/2009-04-Baxter_v_MT.pdf.

For more information, or to schedule an interview please contact Heather Smith at 202-270-9962

or Matthew Faraci at 202-556-1994.

About Americans United for Life

Americans United for Life (AUL) is a nonprofit, public-interest law and policy organization whose vision is a nation in which everyone is welcomed in life and protected in law. The first national pro-life organization in America, AUL has been committed to defending human life through vigorous judicial, legislative, and educational efforts at both the federal and state levels since 1971. The Wall Street Journal has profiled AUL, and PBS' Frontline program chronicled AUL's successful efforts in Mississippi.

SOURCE Americans United for Life

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