Supreme Court Case Brief: Washington V. Glucksberg
1. Case Title and Citation
■ Washington v. Glucksberg
521 U.S. 702,117 S. Ct. 2258,117 S. Ct. 2302; 138 L. Ed. 2d 772
2. Procedural History
The United States Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for any individuals to help another person to commit suicide. This ruling includes and is not limited to doctors.
3. Facts
Washington State has a law on the books which states it is a crime to assist another person to attempt suicide. Dr Harold Glucksberg, a Washington physician, along with other Washington physicians brought suit against the State of Washington, alleging arguing Dr Glucksberg would frequently treat terminally-ill patients, and would have assisted those patients in ending their lives if not for the state’s ban on assisted suicide. Glucksberg brought suit in before
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The district court found that the Washington law violated both the Due Process Clause and Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and the court of appeals affirmed. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.
4. Issue Three terminal ill patients and four doctors brought forth a case challenging Washington State’s position on assisted suicide. Was this an issue over Dr Glucksberg bringing suit in federal district court seeking a declaration that the Washington state law violated a liberty interest protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. The case was heard by the United States Supreme Court.
5. Ruling and Reasoning
Chief Justice Rehnquist was the judge who wrote the majority opinion for the court. He reversed the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision that a ban on physician-assisted suicide symbolized
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