Current Status Introducing Body:House Bill Number:3551 Primary Sponsor:Sharpe Committee Number:25 Type of Legislation:GB Subject:Suicide, criminal assistance to Residing Body:House Current Committee:Judiciary Computer Document Number:DKA/4273AL.93 Introduced Date:19930223 Last History Body:House Last History Date:19930223 Last History Type:Introduced, read first time, referred to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Sharpe Sturkie Koon Witherspoon Riser Wright Type of Legislation:General Bill
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved ____ ______ ____________ ______________________________ ___ ____________ 3551 House 19930223 Introduced, read first time, 25 referred to CommitteeView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
TO AMEND CHAPTER 3, TITLE 16, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 16-3-80 SO AS TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF CRIMINAL ASSISTANCE TO SUICIDE, TO DEFINE THE OFFENSE, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 3, Title 16 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 16-3-80. (A) A person who has knowledge that another person intends to commit or attempt to commit suicide and who intentionally provides the physical means by which the other person attempts or commits suicide, or participates in a physical act by which the other person attempts or commits suicide, is guilty of criminal assistance to suicide. Criminal assistance to suicide is a felony and, upon conviction, the person must be imprisoned for not more than five years or fined not more than five thousand dollars, or both.
(B) A licensed health care professional who administers, prescribes, or dispenses medications or procedures to relieve a person's pain or discomfort, even if the medication or procedure may hasten or increase the risk of death, is not guilty of assistance to suicide under this section unless the medications or procedures are knowingly and intentionally administered, prescribed, or dispensed to cause death.
(C) The provisions of this section do not apply to or affect laws applicable to withholding or withdrawing medical treatment by a licensed health care professional."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.