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Subdivision 1.Aiding suicide.
Whoever intentionally advises, encourages, or assists another in taking the other's own life may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 15 years or to payment of a fine of not more than $30,000, or both.
[See Note.]
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Subd. 2.Aiding attempted suicide.
Whoever intentionally advises, encourages, or assists another who attempts but fails to take the other's own life may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than seven years or to payment of a fine of not more than $14,000, or both.
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Subd. 3.Acts or omissions not considered aiding suicide or aiding attempted suicide.
(a) A health care provider, as defined in section 145B.02, subdivision 6, who administers, prescribes, or dispenses medications or procedures to relieve another person's pain or discomfort, even if the medication or procedure may hasten or increase the risk of death, does not violate this section unless the medications or procedures are knowingly administered, prescribed, or dispensed to cause death.
(b) A health care provider, as defined in section 145B.02, subdivision 6, who withholds or withdraws a life-sustaining procedure in compliance with chapter 145B or 145C or in accordance with reasonable medical practice does not violate this section.
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Subd. 4.Injunctive relief.
A cause of action for injunctive relief may be maintained against any person who is reasonably believed to be about to violate or who is in the course of violating this section by any person who is:
(1) the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the person who would commit suicide;
(2) an heir or a beneficiary under a life insurance policy of the person who would commit suicide;
(3) a health care provider of the person who would commit suicide;
(4) a person authorized to prosecute or enforce the laws of this state; or
(5) a legally appointed guardian or conservator of the person who would have committed suicide.
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Subd. 5.Civil damages.
A person given standing by subdivision 4, clause (1), (2), or (5), or the person who would have committed suicide, in the case of an attempt, may maintain a cause of action against any person who violates or who attempts to violate subdivision 1 or 2 for compensatory damages and punitive damages as provided in section 549.20. A person described in subdivision 4, clause (4), may maintain a cause of action against a person who violates or attempts to violate subdivision 1 or 2 for a civil penalty of up to $50,000 on behalf of the state. An action under this subdivision may be brought whether or not the plaintiff had prior knowledge of the violation or attempt.
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Subd. 6.Attorney fees.
Reasonable attorney fees shall be awarded to the prevailing plaintiff in a civil action brought under subdivision 4 or 5.
Notes of Decisions
State v. Melchert-Dinkel, 844 N.W.2d 13 (Minn. 2014).
· cites it 48× “This appeal presents the issue of whether the State of Minnesota may, consistent with the First Amendment, prosecute Mel-chert-Dinkel for advising, encouraging, or assisting another in committing suicide in violation of Minn.Stat. § 609.215, subd. 1 (2012), which makes it…”
Washington v. Glucksberg, 521 U.S. 702 (1997).
· cites it 4× “1997-1998); Minn. Stat. § 609.215 (1996); Miss. Code Ann.”
Final Exit Network, Inc. v. Ellison, 370 F. Supp. 3d 995 (D. Me. 2019).
· cites it 28× “BACKGROUND Minn. Stat. § 609.215 , subd. 1 provides that that "[w]hoever intentionally advises, encourages, or assists another in taking the other's own life" may be sentenced to imprisonment, or to payment of a fine, or both.”
State of Minnesota v. Final Exit Network, Inc., 889 N.W.2d 296 (Minn. Ct. App. 2016).
· cites it 26× “Final Exit argues that Minn. Stat. § 609.215 , subd. 1 (2014), which makes it a crime for a person to intentionally assist another in taking the other’s life, is facially unconstitutional under the First Amendment.”
State v. Melchert-Dinkel, 816 N.W.2d 703 (Minn. Ct. App. 2012).
· cites it 34× “293, § 1, at 409 with Minn.Stat. § 609.215, subd. 1 (2010). Tracing the centuries-old legal tradition of societal disdain for assisted suicide, the United States Supreme Court has concluded that “[i]n almost every State — indeed in almost every western democracy — it is a crime…”
People v. Ryan N., 2001 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 9104 (Cal. Ct. App. 2001).
· cites it 2× “17-A, § 204; Minn. Stat. Ann. § 609.215 ; Miss. Code Ann.”
State v. Sage, 510 N.E.2d 343 (Ohio 1987).
“17-A, § 204 (1982); Minn. Stat. Ann. § 609.215 (West 1964); Miss.”
People v. Kevorkian, 527 N.W.2d 714 (Mich. 1994).
· cites it 2× “302; Maine, Me Rev Stat Ann, tit 17-A, § 204, Michigan, Act of December 15, 1992, 1992 PA 270 (creating Michigan commission on death and dying and prohibiting certain acts pertaining to suicide assistance); Minnesota, Minn Stat Ann 609.215; Mississippi, Miss Code Ann 97-3-49;…”
State v. Marti, 290 N.W.2d 570 (Iowa 1980).
“1979); Minn.Stat.Ann. § 609.215 (West 1964); Mo.”
Forden v. Joseph G., 667 P.2d 1176 (Cal. 1983).
“17-A, § 204; Minn. Stat. Ann., § 609.215; Miss. Code Ann.”
State of Minnesota v. William Francis Melchert-Dinkel (Minn. Ct. App. 2015).
· cites it 16× “FACTS In April 2010, the state charged appellant William Francis Melchert-Dinkel with two counts of aiding suicide in violation of Minn. Stat. § 609.215 , subd. 1 (2004). At the time, the statute prohibited “intentionally advis[ing], encourag[ing], or assist[ing] another in…”
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