ABSTRACT
In a few states, attempted suicide used to be a criminal act. In some states, people who attempt suicide can be charged with an offense such as creating a public health hazard or a nuisance. In some countries where it used to be against the law, suicide has been decriminalized: New Zealand in 1961, Canada in 1972, and even Ireland in 1993. In June 1997, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the federal government could not interfere with state laws concerning assisted suicide, at least at the present time. The ruling permitted each state to decide whether or not to make assisting suicide a criminal offense. However, it is very likely that as states enact new legislation about assisted suicide, the Supreme Court will review more cases in this area. One common misconception is that life insurance policies are invalid if someone commits suicide.
