Democrats in the Wisconsin Legislature are circulating a bill that would allow doctors to kill patients believed to have less than six months to live, The Heartland Post has learned exclusively.
Democrats in the Wisconsin Legislature have introduced a bill to legalize assisted suicide, formally known as medical aid in dying, for terminally ill adults, the Heartland Post has learned exclusively.
The proposal, modeled after laws in states like Oregon and California, would allow mentally competent individuals with a prognosis of six months or less to live to request and self-administer prescription medication to end their lives peacefully. Sponsors, including Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein and gubernatorial candidate Kelda Roys, argue it provides compassionate options for those facing unbearable suffering from incurable conditions.
“This legislation provides an option for dying individuals that respects and honors their final choices,” the sponsors said in their sponsorship memorandum.
The bill’s introduction follows renewed efforts in recent sessions, with Democrats highlighting successful implementations elsewhere and framing it as a matter of personal autonomy and end-of-life dignity.
However, the legislation faces strong opposition. Critics, including Republican lawmakers, medical ethicists, and disability rights advocates, warn of serious risks. In Oregon, which Democrats cite in their memo, fewer than 5% of cases involve psychiatric evaluations despite high rates of patients citing loss of autonomy (over 90%), burdensomeness (around 45%), and depression concerns.
In Canada, expansions have led to over 4% of deaths involving assisted dying, including cases tied to socioeconomic factors or inadequate palliative care.
Opponents of assisted suicide further contend the policy could pressure vulnerable groups—the elderly, disabled, and poor—while diverting resources improving hospice care and pain management.
