A Bill to legalise assisted suicide has been struck down in New Mexico after cross-party opposition.
The New Mexico Senate voted 22-20 against Senate Bill 252, with seven Democrats joining the Republicans who opposed the measure.
The practice remains punishable by up to 18 months in prison.
Opposition
Under the Bill, the person making the request for assisted suicide would have had to be deemed to be in the final stages of a terminal illness before they were allowed to self-administer lethal drugs.
Dauneen Dolce, Executive Director of Right to Life New Mexico, said opposition to the legalisation of assisted suicide has stopped the “culture of death” from coming to New Mexico.
However, the practice is legal in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, California, and Vermont.
UK vote
Assisted suicide remains illegal in the UK.
Under the law in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a person who intentionally encourages or assists the suicide or attempted suicide of another person, commits an offence which carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
A Bill to legalise assisted suicide was soundly defeated in the House of Commons in 2015. Following a lengthy debate, MPs voted 330 to 118 against Rob Marris’ Private Members’ Bill.