Like taxes, death is unavoidable -- but the vast majority of U.S. states don't allow individuals the means to end their lives on their own terms when faced with a painful or crippling terminal illness. Intentionally taking someone's life (with their blessing) in order to end their suffering, referred to as euthanasia, is illegal in all states. However, a handful of states have legalized physician-assisted suicide under so-called "death with dignity" laws. In states that allow the practice, a doctor may prescribe lethal drugs that allow the patient to die at the time and place of their own choosing, without pain.
Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide in Nebraska: The Basics
If you actively participate in the euthanasia of another individual or aid that person's suicide in any way, the state of Nebraska will charge you with a Class IV felony. But while the state provides no means with which to decisively end one's life, patients may choose to decline artificial respiration, feeding tubes, or other life-preserving procedures. Usually, the patient will indicate his or her end-of-life preferences in a living will.
Additional details of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia laws in Nebraska are listed below.
| Code Section | 20-412; 28-307; 30-3401 |
| Euthanasia Condoned in Statutes? | This Act does not confer any new rights regarding provision or rejection of specific medical care and does not alter laws regarding homicide, suicide, or assisted suicide. Nor does it approve, authorize, or condone homicide, suicide, or assisted suicide. Â |
| Effect of Withholding of Life-Sustaining Procedures | Death from withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in accordance with this Act shall not constitute, for any purpose, homicide or suicide |
| Crime Classification and Penalty for Assisted Suicide | "A person commits assisting suicide when, with intent to assist another person in committing suicide, he aids and abets him in committing or attempting to commit suicide." Class IV felony (up to 5 yrs. in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000) |
Note: State laws are always subject to change at any time through the enactment of new statutes, passage of ballot initiatives, decisions from higher courts, and other means. You should contact a Nebraska health care attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
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Nebraska Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Laws: Related Resources
