Ohio makes assisted dying a felony
House Bill 470 makes knowingly assisting in a suicide a third-degree felony in Ohio, punishable by up to five years in prison. Previously, Ohio law only permitted a court to issue an injunction against someone who helps another kill him or herself. The measure was added into a bill requiring the licensing of palliative care facilities and other compliance procedures. The inclusion of this provision in the bill on palliative care made it too much of a political liability for anyone to stand up against it. Ohio becomes the 25th state to make assisted suicide a felony. “Ohio Right to Life thanks Governor Kasich and the Ohio General Assembly for vastly expanding protections for human life in 2016,” said Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life.