Rep. Russ Fulcher
Legislation to make assisted suicide a felony in Idaho is headed to the state House.
The measure, which cleared the House State Affairs Committee on Tuesday, would levy a sentence of up to five years in prison for those found guilty.
Meridian Republican Sen. Russ Fulcher introduced the legislation, saying he wanted to make it clear Idaho rejects assisted suicide as a standard of care.
It passed the Senate, but not without emotional debate that underscored lawmakers’ discomfort with encroaching on deeply personal decisions even as they seek to protect life.
Lawmakers in the House lauded efforts to improve the measure. Boise Democratic Rep. Phylis King said she initially had doubts and feared it would allow “frivolous” intervention with end-of-life care, but changes had made it “a pretty decent bill.” (AP)
