Dec. 31, 2009 – State of Montana Affirms Physician-Assisted Suicide Not Against Public Policy

The Montana Supreme Court affirmed 4-3 in the case of Baxter v. State of Montana that physician-assisted suicide is not “against public policy” in Montana. The Court further ruled that state law protects doctors in Montana from prosecution for helping terminally ill patients die. The court declined to rule on the larger question of whether physician-assisted suicide is a right guaranteed under Montana’s Constitution.