West Virginia voters on Tuesday narrowly approved a constitutional amendment that adds a prohibition on medically assisted suicide to the state’s constitution. Amendment 1 passed with 50.5% of voters voting for the measure, and 49.5% opposing it, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State’s Office.
Medically assisted suicide is already illegal in West Virginia.
The amendment adds to the bill of rights a line that says,
No person, physician, or health care provider in the State of West Virginia shall participate in the practice of medically assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing of a person.
It goes on to say that nothing in the section prohibits giving a prescription of medication to alleviate pain or discomfort, prohibit the withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining treatment, and nothing in the section prevents the state using capital punishment.
Del. Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, [pictured above] championed the amendment, calling it a proactive measure to ensure that medically assisted suicide does not one day become legal in West Virginia.
