HB157 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arnold MooneyRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Assisted Suicide Ban Act, established, person or health care provider prohibited from providing aid in dying under certain conditions, civil and criminal penalties

Summary

HB157 would ban assisted suicide in Alabama by prohibiting aid in dying and imposing civil and criminal penalties.

What This Bill Does

It would prohibit a person or health care provider from providing aid in dying to another person and would make violations a Class C felony. The bill defines key terms, creates civil damages and wrongful death actions for violators, and allows licensing boards to suspend or revoke licenses for health care providers who deliberately aid in dying. It also provides exceptions, including allowing withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment per a patient’s wishes and permitting palliative care, while clarifying the bill does not bar certain other medical actions. The bill is structured to be exempt from local-funding rules because it creates a new crime, and it takes effect on the first day of the third month after governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Patients or others considering or seeking aid in dying would be affected by the ban and could face penalties if they participate in providing aid.
• Physicians and other health care providers would be prohibited from aiding in dying and could face criminal charges, civil damages, and possible license suspension or revocation for violations.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Assisted Suicide Ban Act to prohibit providing aid in dying and imposes civil and criminal penalties for violations (Class C felony).
• Defines key terms: aid in dying, artificially provided nutritional hydration, deliberately, health care provider, life-sustaining treatment, physician, and suicide.
• Allows civil damages and wrongful death actions; licenses may be suspended or revoked for health care providers who deliberately aid in dying.
• Provides exceptions: allows withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment per patient wishes and permits palliative care and pain management; not prohibiting participation in execution of death row sentences.
• Notes the bill creates a new crime and is excluded from certain local-funding requirements under Amendment 621; effective date is the first day of the third month after governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health Care