Save Montana from Assisted Suicide
A small, important bill can do it- SB 136
Assisted suicide is illegal in Montana, but it still happens. How? Through a legal loophole that was established in 2009 with the Montana Supreme Court case Baxter v Montana. The ruling allows for the patient’s consent to be used as defense for the physician under the homicide statutes.
We at MMFA believe that life should be protected from conception to natural death and we have seen the slippery slope that other states and Canada are now on where this is legal. It is no longer about helping a person with a painful terminal diagnosis die faster, but now encompasses health conditions such as depression, anorexia, and diabetes. This can include a young person and only a fraction of the patients are referred to psychiatric evaluation before the assisted suicide medications are dispensed.
Montanans for Life provided an excellent Zoom seminar last night (approximately one hour in length) and I highly recommend it. There is helpful information on Montana’s law and what is happening around the country and Canada. If you are not able to watch, a few tips on providing testimony are:
Always use the word “suicide” opposed to phrases like “death with dignity” or “medical aid in dying” which are euphemisms.
Don’t use the sanctity of life argument as there are many opponents to assisted suicide but who are not pro-life and this argument can alienate them.
Stick to the topic-do not bring up other talking points
To watch the video, click here — Passcode lR1@9z4R
To read the bill text:
SB 136 will be heard Thursday, January 30th, Senate Judiciary at 0800 in Room 303 if you can testify in person.
If you can testify via Zoom, you need to be registered two hours prior and use your real name (no nicknames or other person’s name). Click here to register. Or you can call 406-444-4800 and leave a message for the committee, asking for a yes vote on the bill.
Thank you so much for your time and energy to get this important bill passed.
And…how about that Trump effect?? The EO on banning transgender medicine in minors is FANTASTIC. I can hardly wait to read the news every morning!