West Virginians narrowly approved a constitutional amendment to explicitly prohibit physician-assisted deaths, according to a MetroNews analysis of statewide numbers.
At the time of the call, votes in favor of the amendment numbered 318,386. Votes against the amendment numbered 312,886. That was a 5,500 vote difference.
Amendment One, which presents a heavy question about life and death, was on the back of ballots — beneath national, state and local political races.
The explanation provided on ballots was that “The purpose of this amendment is to protect West Virginians against medically-assisted suicide.”
To vote in favor of the amendment, voters were instructed to darken the oval next to “FOR.” To vote against the amendment, voters are instructed to darken the oval next to “AGAINST.”
The amendment would add a section to the state Constitution to say, “No person, physician, or health care provider in the State of West Virginia shall participate in the practice of medically assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing of a person.”
Furthermore, “Nothing in this section prohibits the administration or prescription of medication for the purpose of alleviating pain or discomfort while the patient’s condition follows its natural course; nor does anything in this section prohibit the withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining treatment, as requested by the patient or the patient’s decision-maker, in accordance with State law. Further, nothing in this section prevents the State from providing capital punishment.”
Physician-assisted death is legal in nine states — California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington — and the District of Columbia. It is an option given to individuals in Montana via court decision. Oregon became the first state to legalize physician-assisted death in 1997.
Organizations lined up for and against enactment of the amendment.
The national organization Death with Dignity described West Virginia as “under threat.” That organization characterized West Virginia’s ballot measure as eliminating a potential option for terminally ill people.
ACLU West Virginia was also urging a no vote. The organization says medically assisted suicide is not legal in West Virginia. And the organization says constitutions exist to safeguard individual freedoms from government overreach — but this amendment does the exact opposite.
League of Women Voters of West Virginia urged votes against the amendment.
West Virginians for Life, the state affiliate for the National Right to Life Committee, released a statement urging West Virginians to vote in favor of Amendment One.
The Catholic church in West Virginia supported the constitutional amendment.