Connecticut

Background

For years, assisted-suicide activists have attempted to transform the crime of assisted suicide into a "medical treatment," primarily through legislative proposals and voter initiatives. However they have also tried to achieve their agenda by using the courts. As of mid-2009, a case was pending before the Montana Supreme Court.

Assisted-suicide proposals in the Connecticut legislature (1995, 1997 and 2009) failed to gain support for passage.

Connecticut is the latest state to see a court challenge to a state's assisted-suicide law. On September 30, 2009, the assisted-suicide advocacy group, Compassion & Choices (the former Hemlock Society), filed a complaint on behalf of two Connecticut physicians. The complaint seeks a declaratory judgment that Connecticut's law does not provide a valid statutory basis to prosecute any licensed physician who provides an intentional lethal overdose of drugs to certain patients.

Current law regarding assisted suicide

Assisted suicide is a felony in Connecticut.
A person is guilty of manslaughter in the second degree when he intentionally causes or aids another person, other than by force, duress or deception, to commit suicide.
[Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-56(a)]

Current Court Case: Blick v. CT

Essentially, the case centers on persuading the court that assisted suicide is not assisted suicide when it involves a physician and a patient who is dying. Instead it argues that such a death should be considered "aid-in-dying" and claims that "'aid-in-dying' is a recognized term of medical art." The complaint asks the court to find that an assisted-suicide death "does not constitute 'suicide'" within the meaning of the law. View Complaint

Articles and Updates

"Suicide Bill Can Have Unintended Consequences"
( Hartford Courant - Hartford, CT USA - October 15, 2009 )
Physician warns Connecticut residents that legalized assisted suicide leads to health insurance plans paying for assisted suicide to save money. More

"Should Assisted Suicide Be A Crime?"
( Hartford Courant - Hartford, CT USA - October 18, 2009 )
Authors debate their irreconcilable differences about assisted suicide. More

"Doctors file 'aid in dying' lawsuit"
(Connecticut Post - Oct. 7, 2009)
Case questions the state's definition of "suicide."

"Should doctors be allowed to assist with suicides?"
(Hartford Courant - Oct. 8, 2009)
Poll finds overwhelming number of respondents (70.1%) oppose assisted suicide.

"Greenwich, Norwalk doctors file assisted suicide lawsuit"
(Greenwich Times - Oct. 7, 2009)
Attempt to overturn 40-year-old law has national implications.