NEW MEXICO

Assisted Suicide is Legal

2023—SB 471 to strengthen conscience protections for health care professionals who do not wish to participate in assisted suicide passes both chambers and is signed into law. Objectors do not have to either provide information about assisted suicide or refer to willing practitioners. The lawsuit filed in 2022 is dismissed since legislators changed the law to remove the violations stipulated in the lawsuit.

2022—Christian doctors file a lawsuit over violations of conscience in New Mexico’s assisted suicide law.

2021—HB 47 (“Elizabeth Whitefield End-of-Life Options Act”) passes both chambers and is signed by the Governor. Physician-, advanced practice nurse-, and physician assistant-assisted suicide is legalized.

2017—HB 171 /SB 252 (New Mexico “End of Life Options Act”) are introduced in their respective chambers. HB 171, which would legalize physician-, advanced practice nurse-, and physician assistant-assisted suicide, passes out of committee with no further action. SB 252, which would legalize physician-assisted suicide, is defeated in the Senate 20-22.