Many people have strong beliefs about whether a person should have the right to die when they choose—to end a person’s own perceived pain and suffering, especially when they are terminally ill. These beliefs are often rooted in religion, morals, ethics, law (government-made and natural), and spirituality. Depending on a person’s beliefs or point of view, the issue and related laws may also be referred to as death with dignity, assisted suicide, aid in dying, physician assisted suicide, euthanasia, end of life options, and patient choice and control at the end of life.
Currently eight states and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) have laws (statutes) that permit persons to choose when to end their lives under certain circumstances. These states include (1) California, (2) Colorado, (3) Hawaii, (4) Maine, (5) New Jersey, (6) Oregon, (7) Vermont, and (8) Washington. And although the state of Montana does not have such a statute its supreme court has ruled that nothing in the state’s law prohibits a physician from honoring a terminally ill but mentally competent patient’s request to prescribe medication to expedite the patient’s death. In states without such laws a physician or other person’s act of assisting a person with suicide is generally subject to criminal prosecution for murder or other criminal charges.
In Texas, the practice of aiding someone to end their life, commonly referred to as assisted suicide or euthanasia, is illegal. Texas law does not allow for 'death with dignity' statutes, which means that physicians and others are prohibited from assisting in the suicide of another person, regardless of the circumstances or the individual's health condition. Assisting in suicide can lead to criminal prosecution under Texas Penal Code Section 22.08, which classifies the offense as 'Aiding Suicide,' a state jail felony. This reflects the state's position on the matter, which is influenced by ethical, moral, and legal considerations that prioritize the preservation of life. Unlike the eight states and the District of Columbia where certain forms of assisted suicide are legal under specific conditions, Texas maintains a strict prohibition against such practices.
