HJR28 S JUD1 AM #1 3-3

Schindzielorz  7892

The Committee on the Judiciary moved to amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

That the question of ratification or rejection of an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia be submitted to the voters of the state at the next general election to be held in the year 2024, which proposed amendment is that Article III thereof, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section twenty-three, to read as follows:

ARTICLE III. BILL OF RIGHTS.

§3-23. Protection from medically-assisted suicide.

The Legislature shall prohibit physicians, health care providers, or any other person in the State of West Virginia from participating in the practice of medically-assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing of a person, and the Legislature shall enact laws making such actions a crime. The Legislature may enact laws permitting the administration or prescription of medication for the purpose of alleviating pain or discomfort, or other palliative care, while the patient’s condition follows its natural course, or permitting the withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining treatment, as requested by the patient or the patient’s decision-maker, in accordance with State law, so long as the intention is not to kill the patient.

Resolved further, That in accordance with the provisions of article eleven, chapter three of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, such amendment is hereby numbered "Amendment 1" and designated as the "Protection of persons from medically-assisted suicide" and the purpose of the proposed amendment is summarized as follows: "The purpose of this amendment is to prohibit medically-assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy-killing of a person."

Adopted

Rejected