{"id":377309,"date":"2016-03-31T21:37:19","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:37:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/wisconsin-law\/wisconsin-euthanasia-laws.html"},"modified":"2018-05-25T15:58:27","modified_gmt":"2018-05-25T20:58:27","slug":"wisconsin-euthanasia-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/wisconsin-law\/wisconsin-euthanasia-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Wisconsin Euthanasia Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Wisconsin Euthanasia Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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.<\/p>\r\n

Euthanasia Laws<\/h2>\r\n

Normally arising in cases of terminal illness or similar life-limiting condition, euthanasia<\/a> 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\u2019s Euthanasia statutes do not permit a deliberate mercy killing, but can allow removal of "life prolonging" procedures in accordance with a patient's wishes.<\/p>\r\n

Euthanasia Statutes in Wisconsin<\/h2>\r\n

The following chart highlights the main provisions of Wisconsin euthanasia laws.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Code Section<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

154.11; 155.70<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Euthanasia Condoned in Statutes?<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

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.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Effect of Withholding of Life-Sustaining Procedures<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures or feeding tubes does not constitute suicide. Execution of declaration does not constitute attempted suicide.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n

Federal Euthanasia Law<\/h2>\r\n

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.<\/p>\r\n

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\u2019 request, while patients themselves must control the act of self-administering the doses.<\/p>\r\n

Wisconsin Euthanasia Laws: Related Resources<\/h2>\r\n

Euthanasia remains a heated topic of debate, and state statutes governing a person\u2019s right to die are subject to change. You can visit FindLaw's Patient Rights<\/a> section for additional articles and resources on this topic. You can also contact a Wisconsin health care attorney<\/a> if you would like legal assistance regarding a terminal health care matter.<\/p>\r\n

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