CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – A controversial bill to prevent physician-assisted suicide will go before voters in November. If passed, West Virginia would be the first state in the U.S. to officially do so.
In the final hours of the 2024 legislative session, lawmakers passed a little-discussed item to be included in the fall ballot.
House Joint Resolution 28 proposes an amendment to the West Virginia Constitution to prevent health care professionals from committing euthanasia or assisting patients in committing suicide.
Critics say current law already makes it illegal, but supporters argue that it provides additional protections.
“It’s designed to help protect some of the most vulnerable people in our state. These are people who are sick and going through a lot. And it will prevent them from being encouraged to commit suicide,” said bill co-sponsor Del. Chris Pritt (R) of Kanawha.
“We should be voting on restoring reproductive freedom. But Republicans won’t let us vote on it because they know the outcome, just like in every other state. So instead they introduced this meaningless constitutional amendment that bans something that is already banned,” said Del. Mike Pushkin (D) of Kanawha, chairman of the state party.
The decision to accept the popular initiative was passed with 88 votes in favor and only 10 against. The law was also passed in the Senate with a similar margin.
Even if physician-assisted suicide were banned by law, it would not prevent patients from stopping life-saving medications or enforcing do-not-resuscitate orders.
