H 4377 General Bill, By Fair, Haskins and R.J. Herdklotz
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 16-3-1080 so as to provide for the crime of felony criminal assistance to
 suicide, and to provide penalties.

   12/20/95  House  Prefiled
   12/20/95  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/09/96  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-71
   01/09/96  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-71

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 16-3-1080 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE CRIME OF FELONY CRIMINAL ASSISTANCE TO SUICIDE, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 16-3-1080. (A) A person is guilty of felony criminal assistance to suicide and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than four years or fined not more than two thousand dollars, or both, if he has knowledge that another person intends to commit or attempts to commit suicide and intentionally:

(1) provides the physical means by which the other person attempts to commit suicide; or

(2) participates in a physical act by which the other person attempts to commit or commits suicide.

(B) The provisions contained in subsection (A) do not apply to laws that may be applicable to withholding or withdrawing medical treatment to a person by a licensed health care professional.

(C) A licensed health care professional who administers, prescribes, or dispenses medications or procedures to relieve a person's pain or discomfort, even if the medication or procedure may hasten or increase the risk of death, is not guilty of assistance to suicide unless the medications or procedures are knowingly and intentionally administered, prescribed, or dispensed to cause death."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.