PENNSYLVANIA

Assisted Suicide is Not Legal; Legislation introduced

2024—No action yet on HB543 or SB816 (See concerning comments about these bills in 2023). Session ends 11/30.

2023—Two bills are introduced and carried over to 2024. HB543 (“Compassionate Aid in Dying Act”) which would legalize physician- or advanced practice registered nurse-assisted suicide, and SB816 (“End of Life Options Act), which would legalize assisted suicide by any health care provider, defined as: “A person licensed, certified or otherwise authorized or permitted by the laws of this Commonwealth to administer health care services or dispense medication in the  ordinary course of business or practice of a profession.” (p. 3, lines 13-17) A list of health care providers includes acupuncturists, respiratory therapists, perfusionists, athletic trainers, and naturopathic doctors, among others. Allowing unqualified personnel to perform serious assessments on vulnerable patients with lethal results is tragic and unethical.

2021—HB1453 (“Compassionate Assisted Dignified Death Act”) /SB405 (“Death with Dignity Act”), both of which would legalize physician-assisted suicide, are introduced; both stall in their respective Judiciary Committees.

2019—HB2033 (“Compassionate Assisted Dignified Death Act”), which would legalize physician-assisted suicide, is introduced; stalls in House Judiciary Committee.

2017—SB238 (“Death with Dignity Act”), which would legalize physician-assisted suicide, is introduced; stalls in Senate Judiciary Committee.

2015—SB549 (“Death with Dignity Act”) and HB943 (“Compassionate Autonomous Right for the End of Life Act”), both of which would legalize physician-assisted suicide, are introduced, but do not advance.

2014—HB2548 (“Death with Dignity Act”), which would legalize physician-assisted suicide, is introduced; does not advance.

2013—SB1032 (“Death with Dignity Act”), which would legalize physician-assisted suicide, is introduced; does not advance.

2011—SB431 (“Death with Dignity Act”), which would legalize physician-assisted suicide, is introduced; does not advance.

2009—SB404 (“Death with Dignity Act”), which would legalize physician-assisted suicide, is introduced, does not advance. Note Senator Daylin Leach’s reasoning for introducing this bill was watching the terminal decline of his brother-in-law Taylor as he developed new disabilities—a decline he labeled “unbearable suffering” although he admits that Taylor could not speak. So, he assumes that these disabilities would make life not worth living, although his brother-in-law never said so himself. What if the most unbearable issue for Taylor was not his physical decline, as Senator Leach assumes, but knowing that some of those closest to him were repulsed by his disabilities—if their ableism was Taylor’s biggest emotional burden?

2007—HB1435 (“Death with Dignity Act”), which would legalize physician-assisted suicide, is introduced, does not advance.