Monday, December 13, 2010

Assisted Suicide Group Wants Charges Dismissed

Georgia's high-profile case against four members of an assisted suicide group that helped a cancer-stricken man kill himself may hinge on what defense attorneys say is a fatal flaw in the state law used to prosecute them.

The attorneys for the four Final Exit Network members asked a judge to dismiss charges because Georgia law doesn't actually ban assisted suicide, but rather restricts the group from advertising its services. The attorneys contend the law violates state and federal free speech laws.

"We are being prosecuted for publicly advertising something that's perfectly legal," said Don Samuel, one of six defense attorneys at a court hearing on the case. "This couldn't possibly be a crime."

Forsyth County District Attorney Penny Penn said lawmakers drafted the statute to discourage assisted suicide, even if that wasn't spelled out in the law. She urged Superior Court Judge David Dickinson to dismiss the challenge so the case could move forward.

Full Article and Source:
Assisted Suicide Group Wants Charges Tossed in GA

2 comments:

  1. I hope the public in GA get together and make sure the law does read that assisted suicide is banned.

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  2. I believe assisted suicide should be a matter of choice. The problem is if it's legalized, it will be forced upon people or people will be tricked into it. And we can't take that chance.

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