it was written while the individual was of sound mind and body. II. Euthanasia is a Constitutional Right A. Constitutional Application1. Banning Euthanasia is a consitutional violation. Equal Protection clause of the 14th amendment of the Constitution “ every natural person has the right to be let alone and free from governmental intrusion into their private life.” (www.lawlinks.com) Equal protection laws can not be denied to any person within a states jurisdiction The Ninth Circuit Court has found that the right to control the rime and manner of one’s death is protected under the equal protection clause. B. Court Cases and Rulings1. Statutes set by court cases Washington State; 1996“When patients are no longer able to persue liberty or happiness and to not wish to persue life, the terminal patient should have the liberty to choose a dignified death in the manner of their choosing rather than be reduced to unwanted helplessness. (www.lawlinks.com) Janet Reno: Doctors who prescribe lethal medication to end the life of a terminally ill patient, can not be prosecuted by the law. - Congress does not have a role in resolving moral and ethical questions such as those regarding Physician Assisted Suicide. (www.lawlinks.com) Florida; 1997State of Florida v. Charles E. HallIllness: AIDSDiagnosis: Terminal Outcome: The state of Florida ruled that : Under the states Privacy Provision and the federal governments Equal Protection Clause: “every person has the right to be let alone and free from governmental intrusion into one’s own private life.” (CQ Researcher, May 1997) Supreme Court has found that there are “protected liberty interests”, in which the state may not infringe…the Ninth Circuit Court found persuasive evidence that the Consitution encompasses a due process liberty in controlling the time and manner of a persons death...
