Friday, March 30, 2012
© Copyright 2013
Gwinnett Daily Post
ATLANTA (AP) -- Assisting in another person's suicide would be become a felony crime in Georgia punishable by up to a decade in prison under legislation that received final approval on the last day of the General Assembly.
The bill heads to Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature. The legislation responds to a state Supreme Court ruling in February that struck down a 1994 law banning people from publicly advertising suicide.
That ruling meant that four members of the Final Exit Network charged in February 2009 with helping a 58-year-old cancer patient die would not have to stand trial.
Sen. William Ligon of Brunswick sponsored the bill in the chamber and says the practice is something that needs to be stopped in Georgia.
More like this story
- Lawmakers wrangle hefty agenda near session's end ( March 28, 2012 )
- Lawmakers scramble, protest controversial issues on final day ( March 30, 2012 )
- Gov. Deal signs open records law, touts successes ( April 17, 2012 )
- Georgia lawmakers face deadline to move bills ( March 7, 2012 )
- Bill changing criminal system heads to governor ( March 29, 2012 )
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID