Yellow Springs man charged in state’s 1st Assisted Suicide case
From our friends at Dayton Right to Life
A 78-year-old Yellow Springs resident has been charged with assisting in his wife’s suicide. According to WHIO-Dayton, the couple was residing in a senior community village when the suicide took place in March. The man called police to his home after his wife died to report her death. Read the rest of the story and watch the video here.
This law is in place thanks to the efforts of Dayton and Cincinnati Right to Life organizations.
In 2016, Dayton Right to Life, Cincinnati Right Life, along with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati began work on an extensive piece of legislation regarding end-of-life issues. It included language on assisted suicide, providing nutrition and hydration, and other concerns for the medically vulnerable and those at the end of their lives.
Unfortunately, this comprehensive piece of legislation was not able to be completed before the legislative session was schedule to conclude at the end of 2016. However, in December of 2016, with the assistance (and persistence) of Barry Sheets (our lobbyist at the time), we were able to get a small section of the larger legislation, which contained the assisted suicide language, passed. It was signed by Governor Kasich and was officially added to the Ohio Revised Code under section 3795 in March of 2017.
The case in Greene County will be the first time a person has been charged under this code. The final language we composed is available for review here.
“We are very proud of the research, work and advocacy that went into this legislation. Barry Sheets, who passed away last year, was instrumental in lobbying our legislators in Columbus. He was a true “voice for the voiceless.” says Margie Christie, Executive Director, Dayton Right to Life. “Cincinnati Right to Life’s longtime Executive Director, Paula Westwood spearheaded our group and had us focused on this issue. We knew that assisted suicide would come to Ohio sooner rather than later and that we had to have protections in place. Our hard work and foresight are paying off today. Hopefully justice will be served in Greene County.” Christie adds.
Bobby Schindler, the brother of Terri Schiavo, and Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition also served as consultants on the legislation. Mr. Schadenberg posted an article on his site regarding the case. Read here.
The 78-year-old husband of the suicide victim, Thomas Macaulay, has retained Dayton attorney Jon Paul Rion for his defense. Macaulay has pleaded not guilty. His trial is set for December. Cincinnati Right to Life will be watching this case and will provide updates as they become available.
Cincinnati Right to Life and Dayton Right to Life are statewide partners and leaders on protections for the medically vulnerable and on end-of-life issues.