If a loved one has a debilitating, painful, and terminal illness, it's natural to think of ways to try and ease or end their suffering. Sometimes, these thoughts can even turn to physician-assisted suicide. But how is euthanasia handled under the law? This is a quick introduction to euthanasia laws in Wisconsin.
Euthanasia Laws
Normally arising in cases of terminal illness or similar life-limiting condition, euthanasia is the act of helping another person end his or her life. Nearly every state criminalizes physician-assisted suicide to some degree. That said, several states might allow doctors or family members to withdraw life-preserving measures, like feeding tubes or respirators, under certain circumstances. Wisconsin’s Euthanasia statutes do not permit a deliberate mercy killing, but can allow removal of "life prolonging" procedures in accordance with a patient's wishes.
Euthanasia Statutes in Wisconsin
The following chart highlights the main provisions of Wisconsin euthanasia laws.
| Code Section | 154.11; 155.70 |
| Euthanasia Condoned in Statutes? | Euthanasia is not condoned or authorized by Wisconsin law, nor is any affirmative or deliberate act or omission other than to allow the natural process of dying. |
| Effect of Withholding of Life-Sustaining Procedures | Withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures or feeding tubes does not constitute suicide. Execution of declaration does not constitute attempted suicide. |
Federal Euthanasia Law
The Supreme Court decided in 1997 that the government's interest in preserving life and preventing intentional killing outweighs a patient's liberty interest in having the choice to die. Since then, citizens do not have a constitutional right to physician-assisted suicide under U.S. law. The Court did make a distinction, however, between refusing or removing life-saving medical treatment (which can be allowed) and asking a physician to end a patient's life (which can not be allowed). This affords states, like Wisconsin, the option of distinguishing between the two acts.
Although states are permitted to have laws protecting a patient's right to die, very few have done so. Even in the states that have right-to-die laws, doctors are only allowed to provide lethal doses of certain drugs at their patients’ request, while patients themselves must control the act of self-administering the doses.
Wisconsin Euthanasia Laws: Related Resources
Euthanasia remains a heated topic of debate, and state statutes governing a person’s right to die are subject to change. You can visit FindLaw's Patient Rights section for additional articles and resources on this topic. You can also contact a Wisconsin health care attorney if you would like legal assistance regarding a terminal health care matter.
