West Virginia to vote on ballot initiative that would constitutionally prohibit assisted suicide in the state

By lauraharris // 2024-09-13

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West Virginia to vote on a ballot initiative in November that, if it passes, would constitutionally prohibit assisted suicide in the state. The constitutional amendment, known as House Joint Resolution 28, was added to the fall ballot during the final hours of the 2024 legislative session. It seeks to prevent any medical professional from performing euthanasia or assisting a patient in committing suicide. The proposed amendment reads: "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. Nothing in this section prohibits the administration or prescription of medication for the purpose of alleviating pain or discomfort while the patient’s condition follows its natural course; nor does anything in this section prohibit the withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining treatment, as requested by the patient or the patient's decision-maker, in accordance with State law. Further, nothing in this section prevents the State from providing capital punishment." The ballot initiative was easily passed by the Republican supermajorities in the West Virginia Legislature, with lawmakers voting along party lines. Lawmakers were quick to note that, if the amendment passes, it will not prohibit patients from making personal end-of-life choices, such as refusing life-saving medications or signing "Do Not Resuscitate" orders. If approved, West Virginia would become the first in the United States to formally amend its constitution to ban the practice.

McGeehan: HJR 28 would protect West Virginia from the "nihilistic euthanasia movement" in the West

In a recent episode of "Washington Watch," Del. Pat McGeehan (R-Chester) explained the need for a constitutional amendment even though assisted suicide is already illegal in West Virginia to resist the "nihilistic euthanasia movement sweeping the Western world." McGeehan warned that future officials might not share the same pro-life stance. Meaning, the amendment would serve as a safeguard against potential changes. He also discussed the growing trend of "death hotels" and "death Airbnbs" in states where euthanasia is legal, describing how patients receive a "cocktail of poisons" to end their lives in these accommodations. To date, 10 U.S. states have legalized some form of euthanasia, with states like Oregon and Vermont allowing non-residents to participate, leading to "euthanasia tourism." McGeehan also talked about the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program in Canada, which he said is just "a fancy way of saying they're killing their own citizens." Euthanasia is now the fifth leading cause of death in Canada. (Related: Canada's assisted suicide regime has become a conveyor belt of horror stories.) Furthermore, McGeehan said the debate around assisted suicide should concern everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs, due to its potential societal impact. He warned that the normalization of euthanasia could lead to insurance companies denying coverage for expensive treatments in favor of funding assisted suicide. He contended that such a shift would have devastating consequences, such as reducing complex moral decisions to consent and undermining vulnerable patients' autonomy. Visit Euthanasia.news for similar stories about euthanasia and assisted suicide. Watch this clip from "Timcast IRL" where host Tim Pool and his guests discuss the assisted suicide of Dutch woman Zoraya ter Beek.

This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com.

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McGeehan: HJR 28 would protect West Virginia from the "nihilistic euthanasia movement" in the West

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